They were stoned, they
were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword;
they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted,
ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and
mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
And all these, having gained
approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God
had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be
made perfect. Hebrews 11:37-40
“They” are the
faithful believers of the Old Testament who lived their lives as best they
could, in obedience to the truth they knew of God and His perfect plan of
grace. Many of them are named in Hebrews chapter 11, with short summaries of
their demonstrations of personal faith in God. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham,
Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses and many other men and women of faith are
found in chapter 11. Those studies are recorded in this blog, with posts beginning
February 15, 2012 and running daily through February 27, 2012. Their stories
are given to us for encouragement in our own walks of faith, though we live in
a different dispensation. People of faith are still living by the same
principles of God’s Word, regardless of our circumstances. The Law of Moses has
now been fulfilled in the person and work of Jesus Christ, but their trust in
the revelation of the scriptures and their complete willingness to learn and
claim God’s promises to His people stand forever as guidance to us as we follow
the leadership of our Lord. They were not perfect humans. Neither are we. They
had their weaknesses and failures. We do, too. It is not our own righteousness,
but the Righteousness of Christ that characterizes our souls and supports our
daily lives in the devil’s world.
People who believe God are peculiar; different from the
world. Knowledge of God is more important to us than worldly knowledge. We do
not fear the political and social climates, because we know our future is
secure as Royal Family of God. We know that as nations turn away from God’s
truth, nations suffer discipline and decline. That’s not comfortable to live
in, but it is inevitable and we know it, though the world scoffs at our
warnings. People who consistently speak God’s truth are hated by the worldlings,
whose standards of morality are based on human viewpoint and human good, which
cannot compare to divine viewpoint (mind of Christ) and divine good (God’s
perfect righteousness).
For my thoughts are
not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. Isaiah 55:8
But the natural man
receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto
him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. I
Corinthians 2:14
Therefore, as in the days of the patriarchs and prophets,
those who stand firmly on the Word of God in the face of worldly attitudes and
behaviors will suffer persecution. Shameful stonings, torture, deprivation,
abuse are being heaped upon Christians and their leaders in various parts of
the world at any given time. Our forefathers in the faith withstood these
things and we and our offspring may very well face such hardships as time goes
on. Already, in 21st century America, expressing faith in God’s Word
and God’s perfect plan of grace brings snickering ridicule from some and
outright verbal abuse from many others in the social media and from print and
electronic media pundits.
The writer of Hebrews declares the world unworthy of God’s
faithful ones, who sometimes have to find safe haven in caves and holes as they
complete their earthly missions. Their mission is their life, and whatever they
have to endure on earth, the mission and the eternal reward is worth it all.
Those Old Testament believers lived and died without having
actually received the promised real estate and without having actually seen the
eternal Savior. They knew the promise, though, and they knew the atonement of
the Savior; and by believing God in these matters, they received the same
salvation as we receive. They couldn’t receive the promise in the dispensation
of Israel, because the Church was yet to be born, and the fulfillment of the
promise is in Jesus’ complete work of atonement. That act was future to Israel
and is now a past and permanent reality to the Church. Their fulfillment had to
wait for our fulfillment. It is all part of the perfect grace plan of God.
While we still don’t fully realize the eternal blessings to come, we know as
they knew it is all worth every ounce of strength and faith we can muster to
follow the Word of our God to the high ground of spiritual maturity.
Therefore, since we
are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every
weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race
that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our
faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the
shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2
That cloud of witnesses is made up of those heroes of the
faith in chapter 11. They are our examples and inspiration. The thing that
hinders us in the Christian journey is our own sin, not the world. We must
unentangle ourselves from the sin and continue on with motivation, preparation
and endurance; keep moving, don’t dwell on the sins and personal issues; don’t
be distracted by the world; don’t look back; move on with Bible doctrine and
prayer and confidence in the perfect provision of God.
Jesus is our beacon. He is the author of our faith, the
provider of our salvation. He endured the utmost shame of the cross for you and
me, and it gave Him great joy to be able to accomplish that for us. The joy was
greater than the shame. He is now seated at the right hand of the throne of
God. The place of highest honor.
Our salvation is His great pleasure.
