Before I answer you, I will ask you to pray to the God of the Bible who has allowed the words in it to be recorded to guide us. He gives wisdom if we ask (James 1:5), and He rewards those who seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).
I will take these truths and try to show you how you can understand Hebrews 11:1 through a simple scenario. If you believe that God does reward those who seek Him, when you ask for that wisdom, for instance, you must have the hope in you that your request will be answered. Your faith is what your hope is made of. Your hoping is not wishful thinking because it is based on your faith. And your faith is a fact: God will reward those who seek Him. You may have not seen that yet (your request hasn’t been answered yet), but it’s the reality you took as a basis for making your request.
Remark that faith has a basis. It’s not about believing something that is imagined and going with it. It is based on a word that you have received and you have regarded its source as being trustworthy. I will further clarify that point with an example. Suppose a mother who usually picks up her child from school is presently at home. She gets a call from her husband who lets her know that he will pick up the child from school and bring the child home that day. So, because of that she can plan her time doing other things than going to pick up the child from school or making any other kinds of arrangements with other people to get the child picked up. She has a special relationship with her husband, but she has simply made the choice to trust what he said and that is the basis for her believing (not doubting) his word. She could have had trust issues for all kinds of reasons, but in this case she trusted her husband and knows he will bring their child home. She will see her child and that is a fact (evidence) to her that she can base certain actions on, like getting dinner ready for the child, even though the child isn't home yet.
Now to have faith in Christ implies having heard his word (He has spoken). And upon hearing, the hearer has deemed Jesus trustworthy.
Romans 10:11-15 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. 13 For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Romans 8:24-25 24 For we were saved in this hope, but hope that is seen is not hope; for why does one still hope for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance.*
*Because the faith one has is evidence (Hebrews 11:1) that he/she will reach what is hoped for.
You must have remarked the word "obeyed" in the above passage. It is because the Gospel that makes known the salvation that can be obtained through Jesus Christ is not merely an announcement, but a call to whoever is willing to come to a committed relationship with God. So, it's essential to hear the teachings of Jesus and to put them into practice if one really has faith in Him. The trust that one puts in the message received implies obedience to what is spoken. For to believe in Christ is synonymous with following Him (applying his instructions) in the hope of obtaining eternal life. He has taught against wrong understandings of being a believer/a disciple of his who believes He is who He said He is and calls Him "Lord" for instance:
Luke 6:46 But why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do the things which I say?
Matthew 7:21 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in heaven.
John 14:15 If you love me, keep my commandments.
This is echoed by the apostle John in his first epistle:
1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome.
The apostle James had the same understanding when he extended the invitation of the Gospel to come to God to walk in his ways and be saved:
James 1:21-22 21 Therefore, putting away all filthiness and overflowing of wickedness, receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not only hearers, deluding your own selves.
Having faith in Jesus is then being faithful to practice his teachings and so be his disciple who trusts, loves and follows Him as the only way to the Father (John 14:6; Luke 9:23; John 14:15-21). He came into the world as the light of the world (John 8:12) and set an example of life centered on loving God, that is, being obedient to Him, and loving others as oneself, that is, treating them like one would want to be treated (Mark 12:30-31; Matthew 7:12). Faithfulness to obey God’s commandments produces righteousness (1 John 3:7; Romans 6:16), which is a path opposite to the path of sin that Jesus came to save sinners from. These things must be understood when approaching the faith in Jesus and a person who so approaches God will come to have a relationship with Him that is a personal evidence of his presence and that will strengthen trust in Him as the truth (John 14:6) all the more.
John 7:16-17 16 Jesus therefore answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone desires to do his will, he will know about the teaching, whether it is from God, or if I am speaking from myself.
1 Timothy 2:5-6 5 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6 who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
See also:
The Essence of Faith
Faith Working Through Love - video
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