BY FAITH - A TRIBUTE TO MY FRIEND AND COLLEAGUE LOUIS BOYD

By Faith – A Tribute to my friend and colleague Louis Boyd


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

I continued reading in Hebrews this week and came across the famous chapter 11. This is an amazing record of Godly men and women who trusted God in every way even when it was not the popular thing to do. The author begins this list by starting with himself and all other true believers as he points out that by faith “we” understand that God spoke the universe into being. God spoke and it was created. He did not create out of what was visible but instead out of nothing which takes FAITH to understand and believe. The author then goes through his list of people of faith. I don’t think the author was attempting to list every single person in the past that lived by faith, but he was pointing out some of the outstanding men and women who should be commended for their faith. Let me point out some of my favorites. “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family (v. 7).” “By faith Abraham, even though he was past age . . . was enabled to become a father (v. 11).” “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice (v. 17).” “By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned (v. 29).”
As I was reading about all these great men and women of faith, I had a hard time not thinking of people (past and present) that I have had the pleasure of knowing who were also men and women of faith. By faith, Scena Hendrick trusted the Lord in giving up her desires in order to serve her family and the people of God. By faith, Charles Collins gave me a chance to be used by God in music ministry. By faith, Dr. Jim Woodward spoke into the lives of many students at Oklahoma Baptist University not knowing how much the Lord was going to use his words and example. By faith, Dr. George Anderson led First Baptist Church Canton to relocate to One Mission Point, not knowing all that God was going to do here.
By faith, Louis Boyd served the Lord and sought to bring Him glory in all that he did. Louis was a true minister in every aspect of his life. Louis used every opportunity he had to share the love of Jesus with everyone he came in contact with. By faith, Louis developed me in to a better minister by giving me a quality example. By faith, Louis ministered to my boys in their time of need. By faith, Louis shared his faith to the very end of his life knowing that he would not see the total impact he was making on lives for eternity. Thank you Louis for showing me what being a man of FAITH is all about.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us (12:1).”

Living by faith,
Aaron Hodges