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I’ve got something pretty straightforward for you today. It’s this:

When we live by faith we win, and when we live by sight we lose.

What does it mean to “win”? If you’re a Christian, winning means you have victory over the trials in your life. You remain strong and true to God even when it’s tough. It means you are conquering temptation and living without compromise. And it also means not always needing to see the next step before you trust God’s Word and follow Him. That’s the point I want us to look at today.

The old patriarch Abraham spent his whole life living out this truth. We’ve been looking at “Famous First Families” on the broadcast this week and focus today on Abraham. God drew this major plan for Abraham’s family when they were in a land far, far away from Israel. He said, “Dude, I’m starting a new nation, and you’re the man. Get up and move over there. Don’t stay here and get messed up with all those sinful people.”

Now Abraham had a choice. He could’ve made some good excuses for not moving. They would have sounded a lot like excuses we give for not believing God.

Abraham could have doubted , “Maybe I didn’t really hear God right. Maybe I had too much pizza. Maybe it wasn’t really God talking to me,” and maybe he was just refusing to hear the Word of God. “After all, I can’t see what’s ahead for me in Israel, how risky would that move be?!”

Abraham could have adapted the Word of God to make it more conducive to his plans. He could have said, “I know God wants to bless me, but I don’t want to move. So I’ll just pray, ‘Bless me here, God.’ I’ll live for you here among this pagan people.”

Abraham could have delayed . He could have said, “It’s not a good time for me to move right now. I’ll move later, God, when I see how Your plan plays out.”

Abraham didn’t do any of these. If he had, he would have lost out on the most incredible plan of the ages that God had designed just for him. Abraham chose instead to live by faith—and he won! Genesis 12:4 says “So Abraham departed, as the Lord had spoken to him.” That’s faith, right there.

Are the choices you’re making right now characterized by faith? Are you waiting to see how things go before you step out in faith? Are excuses creeping into your plans? Are you doubting or delaying doing what you know God wants you to do? I’ll give it to you straight once again, “ When you live by faith, you win; when you live by sight, you lose.” Every time. Follow Abraham’s example of living by faith—and win!

Do you have faith to believe that your very best spiritual days are in front of you? That your greatest victories are yet in your future? That God's greatest spiritual provisions are still to come? That God has spiritual mountains for you to climb? That there are personal victories that he wants you to experience? The book of Hebrews calls us on to these things.

When you came to the cross of Christ, it wasn't your destination, it was only the starting line. As great as it is to have forgiveness of sin and the hope of eternity, God didn't just save us to get us into heaven. He saved us to call us to higher ground and deeper things. This is the message of the book of Hebrews. You started strong in the Christian life. You're continuing well. Don't stop now!