“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1).

“Being sure of what we hope for” is an important statement about faith. Faith touches the future. The expression “being sure” is the translation of a word that was used for a title-deed. It was the guarantee that something is yours. If you have an airline ticket it doesn’t matter if you’ve never seen an airplane or have never been to an airport. Your seat is guaranteed.

When someone asks, “How do you know you’re going to heaven?” our response is “My faith is my title-deed. I’ve never been to heaven but my place is reserved there because I believe in Jesus.”

When this verse includes the words “certain of what we do not see” it means that faith reaches beyond what is visible to my natural eyes. “Certain” translates a word that means “proof.” Faith is my proof that what I can’t see is really there. Faith is my proof that God knows what He is doing even if I don’t. When we live in touch with things we can’t see we experience an unlimited world. We rise above our own limitations and failures.