Hebrews 11:1
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”
A fingerprint means that someone has been there. Whenever you see a fingerprint on a window, it reveals someone has been there. Hebrews 11 is the fingerprint of faith. Throughout this chapter, you can see when faith has left its fingerprint on someone’s life. Of course, you could study this fingerprint and come up with several results of the fingerprint of faith on someone’s life, but there are four glaring results that faith’s fingerprint leaves on one’s life.
First, the fingerprint of faith gives a vision for that which is unseen. Throughout this chapter, you see the patriarchs of faith seeing what others could not see. They could see the same vision God had for their lives. This is what moved them to action.
If you want faith’s fingerprint on your life, then you are going to have to get a vision to see what God sees. You will never get this vision by living for the world or having a materialistic mind. Faith’s vision can only be seen when someone decides to be content with what they have. You will never see what God has for your life when you are living for your dreams and desires. The vision of faith will only be seen when you have totally surrendered yourself to God’s will and are willing to do what it takes to fulfill that will.
Second, the fingerprint of faith moves one to action when inaction seems like the logical choice. These people in this chapter were willing to leave everything for the sake of faith’s vision. This is why you need to have faith’s vision, because without it you will never be motivated to move. You will always know when faith has left its fingerprint on someone by their actions. When you are living by faith, you can’t help but take action on the vision God has given you.
Third, the fingerprint of faith realizes victory in the face of defeat. One of the most interesting verses is Hebrews 11:13 when it says, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off…” Many of these people never realized the fruit of their faith in their lifetime. Were they failures? Absolutely not! You may never see the fruit of faith in your life, but you have not failed. God ALWAYS honors faith. Many of the results of someone’s life is oftentimes seen after they have stepped on Heaven’s shores. Just because you have not experienced the vision of your faith does not mean you have failed. Faith will honor your action if you keep going.
Fourth, the fingerprint of faith focuses on the One Who brings it to life. Hebrews 12:2 shows us their focus when it says, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith…” This is the key to having faith’s fingerprint on your life. When you stay focused on Christ and not on man, then faith will leave its fingerprint on you. When you live for Christ and not for man, faith will have fingerprints all over your life.
Here is my challenge for you: don’t just let faith leave a single fingerprint on your life, but let faith leave its fingerprints all over you. What makes the Christian life rewarding is having faith’s fingerprints all over your life. Others will never quite understand you, but faith’s fingerprints will not only reward you while you are alive, but they will continue to reward you when you’ve graduated into Heaven.