Obtaining a Good Report
Scripture says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good testimony” (Hebrews 11:1-2, NKJV). The Greek word for “obtained” here means “to bear witness, to become a testimony.” Our ancestors in the Lord had a settled, unwavering and anchored faith. It became a testimony to God’s faithfulness in troubled times.
They had a witness within that God was pleased with them. They had trusted him through floods, mockery, bonds, imprisonment, torture, warfare, lions’ dens or fire. After it all, they knew the joy of the Lord smiling at them and saying, “Well done! You believed and trusted me.”
How do we achieve this too? Scripture plainly tells us, “Without faith it is impossible to please him, for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him (Hebrews 11:6). Whenever we hold our faith position through hard times, we have the same affirmation from the Holy Spirit that says, “Well done. You are God’s testimony.”
When I can rest through storms, when I have cast every burden on Christ and I hold my faith position, then I have obtained a “good report.” I am becoming a beacon of hope to those around me. They can look at me in my hour of crisis and say, “There stands someone who has not lost faith in God. There is a fighter who will not quit. He trusts his God!” As calamities increase and the world falls into great distress, the believer’s response must be a testimony of unwavering faith. We have the Holy Spirit abiding in us, and we have the fully revealed Word of God. We cannot boast in our own flesh, but we can lean on His Word.
Over the years, I have gone out fully armed, determining, “I will set my heart and I will not fear. I will not listen to the doubts and fears of my flesh. I won’t waver and I won’t turn back. I will not pout, fret or wallow in self-pity.” Yet, often unbelief robbed me of victory.
I still have much to learn about “setting my faith.” But I have tasted the victory that comes when I trust the Lord in all things, when I purposefully lay my burdens on Christ and go my way at rest.
