In almost every capital of Europe there are varieties of triumphal arches or columns upon which are recorded the valiant deeds of the country's generals, its emperors, or its monarchs. You will find, in one case, the thousand battles of a Napoleon recorded, and in another, you find the victories of a Nelson pictured. It seems, therefore, but right, that faith, which is the mightiest of the mighty, should have a pillar raised to its honour, upon which its valiant deeds should be recorded.
The apostle Paul undertook to raise the structure, and he erected a most magnificent pillar in that chapter 11 of the epistle to the Hebrews. It recites the victories of faith.
It begins with one triumph of faith, and then proceeds to others.
We have, in once place faith triumphing over death; – Enoch entered not the gates of Hades, but reached heaven by another road from which is usual for men.
We have faith, in another place, wrestling with time; – Noah, warned of God concerning things not seen as yet, wrestled with time, which placed His deluge a hundred and twenty years away; and yet, in the confidence of faith, Noah believed against all rational expectation, against all probability, and his faith was more than a match for probability and time too.
We have faith triumphing over infirmity – when Abraham begetteth a son in his old age, and then we have faith triumphing over natural affection, as we see Abraham climbing to the top of the hill and raising the knife to slay his only and beloved son at the command of God.
We see faith, again, entering the lists with the infirmities of old age, and the pains of the last struggle, as we read – "By faith, Jacob, when he was dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph, and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff."
Then we have faith combating the allurements of a wealthy court. "By faith Moses esteemed the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt." We have faith dividing seas and casting down strong walls.
AND THEN, as though the greatest victory should be recorded last, we have faith entering the lists with sin, holding a tournament with iniquity, and coming off more than conqueror – "By faith the harlot of Rahab perished not with them that believed not …"
