Even if you can't see

Donner Atwood once told the story, “During the terrible days of the Blitz, a father, holding his small son by the hand, ran from a building that had been struck by a bomb. In the front yard was a shell hole. Seeking shelter as quickly as possible, the father jumped into the hole and held up his arms for his son to follow. Terrified, yet hearing his father's voice telling him to jump, the boy replied, "I can't see you!" The father, looking up against the sky tinted red by the burning buildings, called to the silhouette of his son, "But I can see you. Jump!" The boy jumped, because he trusted his father. The Christian faith enables us to face life or meet death, not because we can see, but with the certainty that we are seen; not that we know all the answers, but that we are known.” Faith is believing in that which you cannot see; trusting in that which you are unable to touch or glimpse. Hebrews 11:1 says, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith is the core of things that we desire and long for, and the testimony of everything that is not visible for us right now. It continues in verse 6, “ But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” Everyone who comes to the Lord must believe that He exists; and not only that He exists, but also that He rewards everyone who earnestly seeks Him. Without this, without faith, we cannot be made right in God’s sight, for without faith it is impossible to please Him.
Think of how this passage continues. It goes on to talk about many “heroes of faith.” But four particular people mentioned here stand out. They are:
Noah
Abraham
Moses
Rahab.
Now these four people stand out to me because of the following reasons: It says here that Noah was “moved with holy fear.” He feared the LORD first, and fear of the LORD is holy. It says here that Abraham went where God called him to go, even though He did not know where He was going. This is perhaps the truest example of faith. He went where God led, even though He didn’t know where he was going. And this is what we should do, too. Then there was Moses. He chose to rather suffer afflictions as one of God’s people instead of living as the world. Finally, there was Rahab. She received God’s people in peace and had faith that their God would protect her. This is the faith by which she was saved. What I find interesting about all of these people is that none of them were portrayed as being perfect. Noah did not lead a holy life at some times, Abraham lied on several occasions about Sarah being his wife and committed other detestable sins, Moses murdered an Egyptian, and Rahab had a somewhat… checkered past. But it doesn’t matter how “great” they appeared to be. What matters is that they had FAITH in an incredible God who did work through their weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9 says, “And He said to me, My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.”
Just as the little boy who had to jump into his father’s arms, even though he couldn’t see his father, we sometimes are required to take leaps of faith into our heavenly Father’s arms. For without faith, it is impossible to please God. Hebrews 11:6 says, “For without faith it is impossible to please Him…” Without faith in Him, we cannot please God. If we do not put our trust in Him alone, we cannot please God the Father. If we trust in God, put our faith in Him, and jump whenever He tells us, He will always catch us and never let us fall.