August 24, 2006 - Live by faith

Today's reading is from Hebrews 11 :32 to 40, the conclusion of all those testimonies by the figures before us.

"11:40 Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary(excellent), got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours."

http://www.rbc.org/odb/odb-08-24-06.shtml

It is still amazing to me how these bible characters lived by their faith when none of them got to see what God has promised them. How do they know that God is standing by His promises ? There must be something more than what they saw or received with their physical eyes....perhaps some personal encounters with God and assurances at the spiritual level that enable them to keep their faith.