Pastor Daniel Ethridge
Hebrews 11 is often called the “Faith Hall of Fame.” It’s filled with stories of ordinary people who trusted God in extraordinary ways. But these aren’t just stories to admire, they’re examples to follow.
Your life can be lived in such a way that you are defined by your faith instead of your failures. This week, we look at Abraham and “The Paradox of Faith.” Because when you study Abraham’s life, you see something unexpected:
Faith isn’t just about going.
Faith is also about staying.
The Faith to Go
Hebrews 11:8 tells us that Abraham obeyed God’s call and set out, even though he didn’t know where he was going. That’s the first tension of faith. God calls us forward without always giving us the full picture.
1. Go Because You’re Called
Abraham didn’t move because it made sense. He moved because God spoke. And that same truth applies to us. God is still calling people today. First, to follow Him. Then, to walk in obedience, holiness, and purpose.
“Don’t say God is silent while your Bible is closed.”
For many of us, the issue isn’t that God isn’t speaking. It’s that we aren’t listening. What would it look like for you to take a step toward what God is calling you to do?
2. Go in Obedience
Faith always moves. Abraham didn’t just hear God’s voice, he acted on it. Obedience is not something you master overnight. It’s something you grow in daily.
- You learn to pray by praying
- You learn to serve by serving
- You learn to trust God by stepping out in faith
At first, obedience can feel repetitive or even difficult. But over time, it produces life, joy, and freedom. Disobedience may feel exciting in the moment, but it always leads somewhere empty. Obedience may feel simple at first, but it leads somewhere full.
3. Go Into the Unknown
Abraham stepped out without knowing the destination. That’s how God often works. You don’t need all the details to take your next step. You just need enough faith to trust Him.
“Satan’s plan for your life almost always makes sense, because it never takes any faith to walk in it.”
God will often lead you into places where you must depend on Him. You can step into the unknown when you are following a known God.
The Faith to Stay
Here’s where the paradox comes in. Abraham didn’t just have the faith to go. He also had the faith to stay. To remain. To endure. To keep trusting God over time.
1. Stay a Foreigner
Even in the land God promised him, Abraham lived like a foreigner. He never fully settled. He never built his identity on what was temporary.
That’s a picture of how we’re called to live. We are in the world, but not of it. Our lives should look different because our hope is different. We don’t anchor ourselves to what is temporary. We live for what is eternal.
2. Stay Faithful for the Next Generation
Abraham’s faith didn’t just impact his life. It shaped generations. His obedience became a legacy.
“We will tell a future generation the praiseworthy acts of the Lord.”
Every generation has a responsibility to stay faithful so the next generation can see what it looks like to follow God. The faith you live out today matters more than you realize. Someone is watching. Someone is being shaped by your obedience.
3. Stay Focused on Heaven
Hebrews 11:10 says Abraham was looking forward to a city whose architect and builder is God. He lived with eternity in mind. That’s what sustained him when the promises of God weren’t fully realized in his lifetime.
“They saw them from a distance and greeted them…”
Faith means trusting God not just for what you see now, but for what He has promised beyond this life. We live with anticipation. With expectation. With our eyes fixed on something greater.
Living the Paradox
The life of faith is not one-dimensional. It requires the courage to go when God calls and the endurance to stay when life gets hard. It means stepping into the unknown and staying anchored in what is eternal. It means trusting God in the moment and believing Him for what’s still to come.
So the question is simple:
Where is God calling you to go?
And where is He calling you to stay faithful?
Because a life of faith will always require both.
If you’re ready to take your next step, fill out a Connection Card or visit one of our campus locations. We would love to pray with you, baptize you, or help you get connected.