Keith Howard - April 22, 2012
Trust: From East of Eden to Ararat
Last week, we entered the foyer to the Gallery of Trust and learned Hebrews 11:1-3 does not "define" faith/trust; it tells us how trust functions. If scripture defined trust, our sin natures would strive to mimic what God alone gives as a gift. Instead of defining faith/trust, scripture gives us a grid to view what trust does until we see Jesus face to face. The grid of vv. 1-3 was this: (1) trust measure the present against the future; (2) trust measures the visible against the invisible. We learned that trust is found at that point where your wishes and demands slam head-on into what God wills for you and his Word promises and commands. Today, in Hebrews 11:4-7 we will look at the portraits hung in the first room this morning, the Antediluvian (pre-flood) Room, in which Abel, Enoch, and Noah are portrayed. There is a progression in the theme of trust in the three portraits: (1) In Abel we see trust worshiping; (2) in Enoch we see trust walking; and, (3) in Noah we see trust working. We will briefly glimpse Noah this morning and return to him in our next study.
Scripture References: Hebrews 11:4-7