Yesterday we saw that Hebrews 11 encourages us to learn from people in the past who lived by faith. Hebrews 12 reminds us to keep going with perseverance, "fixing our eyes on Jesus" as we live by faith wherever God has placed us in this world.

Jesus is the pioneer of faith. We celebrate this truth whenever we sing, "Amazing grace—how sweet the sound—that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, was blind, but now I see. . . ." Jesus, the good shepherd, came to seek and save all who are lost in sin and darkness. And when he finds us, he restores us, gives us new life, and takes us to live with him (see Luke 15; 19:1-10). Jesus can do all this because he made salvation possible. He paid the price for all our sins by giving up his own life. He took our place and died for our sake. Then he rose again in victory over death—and he shares his abundant, eternal life with all who believe in him as the Lord and Savior.

Jesus is also the perfecter of faith. He lived perfectly by faith for our sake—never failing or falling away. In obedience to God and complete trust in God’s salvation plan, Jesus "endured the cross, scorning its shame" for our sake, remaining faithful for his Father’s glory. Jesus "endured such opposition" so that we "will not grow weary and lose heart."

Let us keep our focus on him, for he is with us always (Matthew 28:20).