Believing in God’s word pleases Him. When we believe and act, God, in His delight, rewards us (Heb 11:6).
The ancestors of faith were blessed for pleasing and revering God. God commanded Noah, “Build an ark.” He proclaimed that He would send a flood to destroy the world because humanity had become so corrupt and violent that it was no longer a place where people could live. From a human perspective, this command seemed impossible and unimaginable, but Noah revered God’s word and obeyed (Heb 11:7). Without the reverance of God, no one can truly follow His commands. By revering and believing in God, Noah built the ark, and as a result, he and his family were saved from the flood (Genesis 6–8).
Abraham also revered God and was blessed (Heb 11:8). When God commanded him, “Leave your country, your relatives, and your father’s house,” He did not specify the destination but simply said, “Go to the land I will show you, and I will bless you.” At that time, leaving one’s homeland meant facing uncertainty—no food, no shelter, no security—along with the constant threat of danger and even death. Obeying such a command required deep reverence for God and unwavering trust in His word. Yet, God did not merely command Abraham to go; He also gave him a promise: “If you go to the land I show you, you will become a great nation and a source of blessing” (Ge 12:1–2). Isn’t being a source of blessing the highest form of blessing? Because Abraham obeyed and clung to God’s word through trials and hardships, the blessings he received were just as great. To receive God’s blessings, it is essential to honor His word and trust in His promises. When we do, what we believe will come to pass. Abraham, who revered God and left his homeland, found victory wherever he went. Even in barren lands, the places he settled flourished. He was also given the promise that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars, and his wife, Sarah, despite her barrenness, was blessed with a son.
If we possess a faith that reveres and fears God, we too can receive the blessings of Abraham and Noah. The Bible foretells the judgment and destruction that the ungodly will face, just as in the days of Noah, when the flood overwhelmed and destroyed the world (2 Pe 3:6–7). If we reveres and fears God, we must also believe in His word. Just as Noah prepared the ark and was saved, we must now flee to the ark of salvation, Zion, to survive (Jer 4:5–6). When Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed, Lot’s sons-in-law mocked God’s warning. In the same way, those who do not revere God today reject His word with doubt. We must firmly believe that God’s word will come to pass. Before the great and unparalleled disaster strikes, it is an act of love to urgently guide dying souls to flee to Zion (Rev 7:1–3).
In the time of King Hezekiah, the people of Judah, who feared God and kept the Passover, were saved, while the northern Kingdom of Israel, who mocked and disregarded God’s promise, was destroyed. This history is recorded in the Bible (2 Ch 30:1–10; 2 Ki 18:9–12; 19:30–33). To receive God’s blessings, we must keep His word. When the fierce day, like a blazing furnace, arrives, those who fear God will be saved from disaster and leap like calves released from the stall, while those who reject His word will be ashes (Mal 4:1–3). God distinguishes between those who revere His word and those who do not (Mal 3:16–18). When King Saul ignored God’s word, God chose David, a man after His own heart, to replace Saul as the rightful king. Likewise, to become part of the royal priesthood in the kingdom of heaven, one must fear God and be a person after His own heart.
The ancestors of faith wholeheartedly believed in God’s promised blessings and devoted themselves with zeal. Likewise, let us revere God’s promise of granting us the glorious kingdom of heaven and receive His blessings. Fearing God and faithfully keeping His word is the way to lay hold of heaven. May you, like Abraham and Noah, receive great blessings; like the Apostle Paul, be awarded the crown of righteousness; and like Peter, receive the keys to the kingdom of heaven—becoming the children of Zion who bring joy to God.
