What Were The Ancients Commended For?

This is from John Eldredge's devotional, "The Ransomed Heart"...

"Where would we be today if Abraham had carefully weighed the pros and cons of God's invitation and decided that he'd rather hang on to his medical benefits, three weeks paid vacation, and retirement plan in Ur? What would have happened if Moses had listened to his mother's advice to "never play with matches" and lived a careful, cautious life steering clear of all burning bushes? You wouldn't have the gospel if Paul had concluded that the life of a Pharisee, while not everything a man dreams for, was at least predictable and certainly more stable than following a voice he heard on the Damascus road."

I'm certain that John means here that Paul's letters wouldn't have been the instrument that God used to impact the church. God would have found someone else to do His work. But how tragic if Paul had not ever been converted! His life was radically changed as he stepped out in faith to follow Jesus. Once he got his eyesight back, of course.
But because these people did act in faith, we now have an example to follow. Today. Have we insulated ourselves from all risk? Or have we decided to step out of the boat and get our feet wet?

Hebrews 10:38-39; 11:1-2 "But my righteous one will live by faith. And if he shrinks back, I will not be pleased with him." But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who believe and are saved. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for."