Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

The above exhortation follows what we could call the listing of the members of the Hall of Faith in chapter 11 of Hebrews. Abraham (new name) is the most prominent of these and the simple summarized basis for his distinction was “Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness”. (Genesis 15:6). In other words, whatever the Lord promised or revealed to Abraham, he took it as truth even though the thing promised was not yet evident in his prevailing circumstances.

Abraham chose to make an investment in God’s character. That is faith! Many since Abraham have done so. I think of men and women who have gone out to the mission field – some to extremely dangerous places – knowing full well they will not have the conveniences to which they had become accustomed. Some even take their young children, thereby abandoning any hope of offering them the privileged lifestyles to which they were born. Those people are called, just like Abraham was, and like the others listed in Chapter 11 they have moved on to a life of faith.

I am sure you could nominate to the Hall of Faith people you have known. Some you might consider to have “traveled light” or who lived very simple lives but left no doubt about their relationship with God. They may even have endured hardships we cannot even contemplate. They understood something we are still learning.  Like Abraham, they were looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. (See Hebrews 11:10). They were just passing through the earth, so they had their eyes fixed on Jesus, the author and perfecter of their faith. We are not all called to live identically radical lives, but every believer is called to live as a “nominee” to the Hall of Faith – taking God at his word.