I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but I once paid hard-earned money to tour The Bowling Hall of Fame. One of the exhibits was a long hallway of portraits painted of those whose greatest achievement was knocking down a lot of pins with a very heavy ball.
Isn’t our world filled with such hallways? We celebrate silly things. We are impressed by those who amass wealth that cannot purchase anything of lasting significance. We hand out plaques to those who spend decades shuffling papers or building things destined for the burn pile. We celebrate celebrities, knowing full well that they are mere mortals like us.
Hallway after hallway after hallway of portraits honoring achievements that are ultimately insignificant. Not so in the Word of God. Scholars have long branded Hebrews 11 as the “Hall of Faith.” Consider the portraits that hang on these walls.
Let’s consider: Enoch lived 365 years (Genesis 5:23) before he sidestepped death and was taken up to heaven (Hebrews 11:5). Noah built a giant ark because God told him to, then watched humanity drown (v.7). Abraham said yes to God’s remarkable call to offer his only son as a burnt sacrifice (v.17). Moses led the Israelites across the bottom of the sea as heaven-held waves churned on either side (v.29). Rahab welcomed enemy spies into her home, knowing she’d face execution if caught (v.31). Then there are the nameless faces of this hallway. Others experienced mocking and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. “They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted and mistreated” (vv.36–37).
Unlike the bowling hall of fame, the portraits in this hallway take my breath away. Truly,
the world was not worthy of them (v.38).
The heroes of our faith did not fight for all that’s fleeting. They did not fritter away their lives on tchotchkes. They didn’t fill the storehouses of their hearts and minds with things that could not last. Instead, they lived surrendered in radical obedience to God. They deserve our applause. May we join the ranks of those whose greatest achievement is saying “yes” to the one true God.
This is what stood out to me today; 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect. – Hebrews 11:40
Lord, forgive me for spending so much energy with my eyes on the here and now. For letting the temporal overwhelm my thinking. Give me vision by Your grace to see the eternal, to greet those things as certainly as I greet the sun rising everyday even though they seem afar off. To embrace the way they create a new identity in me as it pertains to this world-“stranger and exile”.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. – Hebrews 11:13
Lord, forgive me for spending so much energy with my eyes on the here and now. For letting the temporal overwhelm my thinking. Give me vision by Your grace to see the eternal, to greet those things as certainly as I greet the sun rising everyday even though they seem afar off. To embrace the way they create a new identity in me as it pertains to this world-“stranger and exile”.
13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. – Hebrews 11:13
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” (Hebrews 11:1)
“The just will live by faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
“And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Hebrews 11:6
Lord, I don’t have much to offer, today, accept a broken but willing spirit. My heart breaks at my own sin and selfishness. Revive me in Your righteousness. You do not hold our sins against us. You don’t repay us according to what we really deserve. Help me walk in love despite my despair. Help me to be honest and not self-seeking. Help me to be gentle and patient. Help me to love people even if it means keeping silent and letting them speak ill of me. Please restore my family’s brokeness. Breathe healing and life into our souls. Give us a sense of love and affection for one another, despite our shortcomings against each other. Please bless us God and help us to ensure through trials and tribulations – small and great. Give us eyes to see the heavenly home with You that awaits us. You are our inheritance. I am thankful because I know this. In times of hardship I say, “well, at least this will all end and we will be with You in peace.” this is not the end. This life is a vapor and You are our home.
How lucky are we that we actually have the Bible to show these acts of faith- the people in these stories did NOT have a Bible encouraging them to keep going, a Bible to show them the way, or a Bible helping them understand. It was ONLY faith!!! Lord help me to believe in my unbelief- help me to store my life in the hope of You!!! Amen!!
Good morning She’s. Happy Tuesday! I got up a little earlier in hopes to get some reading done for my class before heading to work.. @Erica Wilson, I needed to hear those words.
Radical obedience…. That hit my heart today. I have read this passage so many times but God gave me a new perspective. None of them received what had been promised but that did not stop them. So often I desire things to be easier or a hard season to end but God does not promise us happiness or success or wealth. He promises us so much more that might not come to pass in this temporary world. God may my weakness turn into strength and may my faith be radical obedience to you no matter the cost.