Hebrews 11:6 says, “But without FAITH it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must BELIEVE that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  The words faith and believe in this verse are very similar in the Greek.  FAITH comes from the Greek word, “pístis” and is defined as “the moral conviction of religious truth, or the truthfulness of God.”  BELIEVE comes from the Greek word “pisteúō” and is defined as “to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing).”  Even to the unlearned eye, we can see how similar the two Greek words are.  In fact, the PHILLIPS translation gives us the verse like this, “And without faith it is impossible to please him. The man who approaches God must have faith in two things, first that God exists and secondly that it is worth a man’s while to try to find God.”  Here, he uses the word faith in both instances.

This verse is given by the apostle, to complete his reasoning that he gave previously. He had said in verse 5 that God translated Enoch (took him to Heaven) without dying, on account of his faith. “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.”  This chapter begins by introducing us to the characteristics of faith.  We read in verse 1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”  We see it is by faith that we understand that God created the world by His own word.  It was by faith that Abel offered the acceptable sacrifice to God, and it was because of his faith that Enoch did not have to die but was carried up into Heaven without the vehicle of death. 

From this, we realize that we CANNOT please God apart from having faith in Him and His Word.  Where does this faith come from?  Romans 10:17 answers that question for us.  It says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”  Faith is produced in the heart when we honestly listen to God’s Word with a desire to know Him.  He will reward us with the faith needed to completely trust in Him.  Ephesians 2:8 tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is THE GIFT OF GOD.” 

So, to please God, we must exercise that faith and believe on Him or trust Him to do what He says He will do.  To come to God, or to approach Him, MUST be by the simple faith produced by honestly hearing God’s Word.  To come to the Lord for salvation, to come to Him as a believer in prayer, praise, or worship MUST be by faith.  Without faith it is IMPOSSIBLE to please Him or do things well pleasing in His sight.  It is the duty and privilege of every believer to seek to please our Lord.  “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; THAT HE MAY PLEASE HIM who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” (2 Timothy 2:4).  The characteristic of the believer is that “…we walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7).

Abel walked by faith, and it pleased the Lord.  Enoch walked by faith, and it pleased the Lord.  My dear reader, to come to the Lord by faith for salvation pleases Him, to come to the Lord and cast all your cares upon Him by faith pleases Him, to praise and worship Him by faith pleases Him.  May it be our desire to be like the Lord Jesus, who said of Himself in John 8:29, “…I do always those things that please him.”  (CC)  (693.2)