“For in just a very little while, “He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.” But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved” (Hebrews 10:37-39)

There's a foundational truth woven throughout scripture that’s both simple and profound: faith pleases God. It’s not just an optional extra for the spiritually elite; it's the very baseline of our relationship with Him. As the writer of Hebrews famously states, "without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him" (Hebrews 11:6).

This idea is brought to a sharp focus at the end of Hebrews 10. After a long passage about endurance through suffering, the writer gives this powerful conclusion: "For in just a very little while, 'He who is coming will come and will not delay. But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him.'" Then, he adds a declaration of identity: "But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved" (Hebrews 10:37-39).

This isn't just a command; it's a description of who we are in Christ. Living by faith is our native language.

The Starting Point and the Journey

Think back to how this journey began. We first came to God through faith, trusting in what Jesus accomplished for us. It wasn't through our own works or merits, but by placing our confidence in His finished work. The apostle Paul makes this connection beautifully in Colossians: "So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him" (Colossians 2:6).

How did we receive Him? By faith. Therefore, how should we continue to live? By faith. It’s the starting block and the entire track we run on. Faith is the posture we are meant to maintain throughout our lives, a continuous state of believing and trusting God in all things.

Faith Doesn't Shrink Back

This passage from Hebrews presents a powerful contrast: shrinking back versus believing. Shrinking back leads to destruction, while believing leads to salvation and life. This isn't about a single moment of doubt causing us to lose our salvation. It's about a posture of life. Do we face challenges with a spirit of retreat, or with a spirit of faith?

When we choose faith, we are declaring that God’s power working through us is greater than any obstacle in front of us. This is the heart behind Paul’s triumphant declaration in Romans 8:37 that we are "more than conquerors." He follows this with one of the most reassuring passages in all of scripture, convinced that nothing—not death, life, angels, demons, the present or the future—can separate us from God's love.

It is this unbreakable love that empowers our faith. It allows us to rise to any occasion, not because of our own strength, but because of what God can accomplish through a heart that trusts Him.

Waiting with Active Trust

The passage also carries a sense of urgency and hope: "He who is coming will come and will not delay." This isn't just a distant, abstract idea. It's a certain promise that should shape how we live today. While we wait for that glorious day, our primary act of preparation is to live by faith.

Living by faith means trusting God with our present circumstances and our future hopes. It means patiently waiting on His timing, knowing that what He has promised will surely come to pass. It means choosing, day by day, to stand firm.

We are defined not by our fears or our hesitations, but by our belief. We belong to the group that holds on, that trusts, that believes, and in doing so, finds true life and salvation. We are not those who shrink back. We are those who live by faith.

Personal Reflection Questions

1. Are you still living with simple faith, or has it become complicated?

2. When challenges arise, do you shrink back or stand firm?

3. How does Christ’s promised return affect your view of today's struggles?