Abraham is our example and spiritual father, for he believed God could raise the dead and call into being things that didn’t exist yet on Earth. Against all odds, even when it looked hopeless, he believed the promise. He took God at His word and expected Him to fulfill it (see Romans 4:17). 

To stand firmly on God’s word and persevere is to receive spiritual sight into the invisible realm. Believing what is invisible to the natural eye. We train ourselves to see through His eyes and look for what He is doing. We take Him at His word, though some promises have not yet been made visible. 

We can develop and advance in a language that agrees with God by watching over His word—keeping it, guarding it, speaking it, and interceding for its full expression to be unveiled. “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1-2). 

The ancients were commended for such a faith. By faith, they believed in Christ (the Messiah). They were still living by faith when they died and did not receive the things promised. They only saw them and welcomed them from afar, acknowledging that they were foreigners and strangers on Earth. They were all commended for their faith, since God had planned something better. Only under the New Covenant, together with us, would they be made perfect. That “something better” is the revelation of Jesus—His death on the Cross and His resurrection. Jesus will remain invisible to those who have no faith in His resurrection (see Hebrews 11:13, 39).

Jesus was handed over to be crucified for the forgiveness of our sins. He was raised from the dead to prove that He had made us right with God. When we believe and embrace the One who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead, perfect righteousness is credited to our account as well (see Romans 4:22-25). 

Like Abraham, may we become strong and mighty in our faith. May we be convinced that God has all the power needed to fulfill His promises.