Faithful but Flawed: Following the Perfect Example

In Hebrews 11, we’re taken on a powerful journey through what many call the “Hall of Faith”— an overview of men and women who dared to trust God in uncertain, impossible, and even scandalous situations. But this chapter isn’t written to put these people on pedestals. It’s not designed to make us worship Noah, Abraham, or Moses. Instead, the purpose is to show us what God can do through a life of faith and, ultimately, to point us to the one true hero—Jesus.

The author of Hebrews begins with a foundational truth: “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.” (Hebrews 11:1–2)

This chapter isn’t celebrating moral perfection or human greatness. It’s a collection of stories about people who dared to believe in God even when they couldn’t see the end of the story. Their lives weren’t clean or flawless. In fact, many of them made massive mistakes. But God still used them—not because they were perfect, but because they were available.

The World's Hall of Fame vs. God's Hall of Faith

In our culture, greatness is defined by performance: talent, achievement, stats, and influence. Take the NFL Hall of Fame, for example. To be enshrined, a player must have a legacy of game-changing excellence. That level of success is rare. Of the 125 million adult men in the U.S., only around 2,200 are active NFL players. That’s a 0.0017% chance—or roughly one in 56,500. 

But here’s the beautiful news: God’s standards are completely different. God’s Hall of Faith doesn’t require a flawless resume. His standard for greatness isn’t based on statistics or trophies, but on trust—even in the messiest moments. In God’s economy, greatness is measured not by public acclaim but by private surrender.

Flawed But Faithful: The Power of Imperfect Trust

Let’s take a brief look at the “Hall of Faith” resumes:

• Noah built the ark in reverent fear. But after the flood, he got drunk and exposed himself (Genesis 9:21).

• Abraham believed God for a child and moved to a foreign land. But he also lied - twice - about Sarah being his sister. Can you imagine that camel ride home? Awkward!

• Sarah laughed in disbelief when she heard she would have a child. But later, she judged God faithful. 

• Moses led God’s people out of Egypt. But he was also a murderer and someone who doubted God’s call.

• Rahab was a prostitute. Yet by faith, she protected God’s people and is remembered as righteous.

These stories show us that faith is not the absence of failure, but the presence of trust in the middle of failure. Faith isn’t about perfection—it’s about trusting God in imperfect moments. This should give all of us incredible hope. You don’t need to be the strongest, smartest, or most spiritual person in the room to be used by God. You simply need to be willing. As Rick Warren put it, “God doesn't use perfect people because there are none—only available ones.”

Don’t Worship the Witnesses - Follow the Founder

It’s tempting to look at Hebrews 11 and start saying, “I want to be like David,” or “I wish I had faith like Abraham.” But if we stop there, we miss the bigger picture. Hebrews 11 is not the end—it’s the setup. The crescendo comes in Hebrews 12:1–3, which begins with the word “Therefore.” 

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders… fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” 

All those heroes of the faith are not the point of the passage. They bear witness to the one who is ultimately worthy of our faith — they are not the object of our worship. They’re cheering us on, yes. But the only one we’re supposed to fix our eyes on is Jesus. The real hero of the Bible isn’t in Hebrews 11. It’s Jesus Christ in Hebrews 12.

Think of it like a relay race. Abraham hands the baton to Isaac. Isaac hands it to Jacob. Jacob to Moses. Moses to David. And eventually, Jesus takes the baton and crosses the finish line—perfecting the faith that all the others merely foreshadowed.

As we walk through the stories of the people in Hebrew 11, don’t forget to look toward Jesus. He is the prize at the end of this passage!

The Law Was a Tutor - But Jesus is The Goal

Galatians 3:23–25 says: “Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law… So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith.” In the King James Version, the word “guardian” is translated “schoolmaster.” The idea is that the law - and even the stories in Hebrews 11 - were meant to teach us. They prepared the way, but they weren’t the destination.

Imagine going to school for years, learning from the best teachers, but never graduating. That’s what it’s like when we admire the heroes of the Bible without seeing how they all point to Jesus.

Jesus is not just a better version of David or Moses. He is the fulfillment of everything they were looking toward. The Bible is not a collection of disconnected moral stories. It’s a unified narrative of redemption, all centered on Jesus Christ.

As J.D. Greear wisely said: “The Bible isn’t a story about good people doing great things for God. It’s about a good God doing great things through broken people.”

Faith Like Theirs - Eyes on Him

Let the stories of Hebrews 11 inspire you - but don’t stop there. Keep reading. Because the goal isn’t to emulate Abraham or imitate Rahab. The goal is to fix your eyes on the One who authored and perfected their faith - Jesus. He is the reason their faith mattered. He is the One who finished the race. He is the one who endured the cross, scorned its shame, and now sits at the right hand of the throne of God.

When your life feels messy, broken, or unworthy—remember, you're not disqualified. If God could use a liar, a murderer, a prostitute, and a doubter, He can use you!

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Flawed Week 1. April 27th, 2025. Preached by Ben Dieterly

Article Edited by Julia Castro