When looking at people of faith we often gravitate to Hebrews. The start of chapter 11 says this… Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

It goes on to list what the ancients, the hero’s of the bible, were commended for. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family (verse 7), By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going (verse 8), and by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered Him faithful who had made the promise (verse 11).

If you compare the hero’s stories from Hebrews 11 with their actual stories, they are not the same story. For instance lets take a look at Sarah. Sarah is the founding mother of the tribes of Israel, who are Gods chosen people. Her story can be found throughout the pages of Genesis.

God promised Abraham and Sarah that they would father (and mother) a great nation. The problem was though that Sarah was barren, she was unable to bear children and so at first she laughed and mocked God at the promise He gave her (Genesis 18:12). She then tries to bring about the promise from God in her own strength and convinces Abraham to have a son through her servant girl, Hagar.  But, God is faithful and His promise comes true and eventually Sarah gives birth to a son, Issac.

Now fast forward through time to the writing of the book of Hebrews and now Sarah is mentioned as being a woman of faith. She is commended for her faith and is listed as a part of the great cloud of witnesses.

When we read Sarah’s story we often focus on all the things that she did wrong. She laughed at Gods promise, she tried to do things in her own strength and timing and not in the Lords, she was jealous and envious and then sends Hagar and her son of into the dessert and if it were not for God’s intervention there they would have died.

But, God takes Sarah’s story and He chooses to remember her as a woman of faith. Her history was re written. This is just what God does, His love is so great for us that He can see the good in us more than the bad, He chooses to forgive us, He shows us mercy and then rewrites our history so that we are remembered for all the good things.

Sometimes it is hard for us to own our past. We feel embarrassed or ashamed over the things we have done or had done to us but God encourages us to throw off everything that hinders and entangles us and to walk in faith and our great faith is what we will be remembered for.

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, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he 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 sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. Hebrews 12: 1-3

Do you feel that God is calling out to you to do something but you feel afraid? Then cast all your worries and fears on Him and and take a step of faith and do the thing that God is calling you to do. You will not be remembered for your fears but you will be remembered by your step of faith.

Take all your past hurts, mistakes, bad habits, fears, anxiety’s all that hinders you and all that entangles you and lay them at His feet. They no longer belong to you anymore, Take a hold of faith and Gods promises for you, your history is being rewritten.