er.

Already my life-blood is poured out and the time for me to go has come.
I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course, I have kept
the faith. Now the crown for right-doing awaits me which the Lord, the
righteous judge, will give to me on that day, and not to me only but to
all who have loved and longed for his appearing.

THE MEANING OF FAITH

Now faith is the confidence that we shall receive the things for which
we hope, the proof of the reality of things we do not see. It was
because of their faith that the men of old were approved by God. Through
faith we know that the universe was made perfect by God's command and
that what is seen was made out of what is not seen.

Through faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain, and so
received the assurance that he was an upright man, for God approved of
his gifts. Though dead, yet because of his faith he still speaks.

Through faith Noah, having been told by God about things still unseen,
in reverent obedience built an ark to save his household; and in doing
so he condemned the world and became heir to the righteousness that
comes through faith.

Through faith Abraham obeyed, when he was called to go to the place
which he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing
where he was going. Through faith he made his home in the land that had
been promised to him as in a foreign country, living in tents with Isaac
and Jacob, who shared the same promise with him.

Through faith Abraham, when put to the test, sacrificed Isaac, yes, was
ready to sacrifice his only son, although he had received the divine
promises and had been told, "It is through Isaac that your family name
will be carried on," for he believed that God was able to raise men even
from the dead. In a sense, he did receive his son back from the dead.

Through faith, also, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau, even telling them of
things to come. Through faith Joseph, as he was dying, thought of the
time when the Israelites would go out of Egypt and gave orders about his
own bones.

Through faith Moses was hidden by his parents for three months after
birth because they saw that the child was beautiful, and because they
did not fear the King's command.

Through faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son
of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's
people than to enjoy for a short time the pleasures of sin.

Through faith he le