We all love Hebrews 11 where we find the OT heroes of faith listed. What amazing examples of faithfulness and endurance. What great models of living by faith in One who we cannot see. I wonder if one day we may hear some of them recount for us how God brought them through times of struggle, challenge and doubt. Many of them would be able to tell marvellous stories of miraculous preservation or rescue.
However the Bible is always honest and clear. Living by faith in obedience to God does not guarantee an easy life nor does it guarantee that things will all work out fine in the end - at least not the end of earthly life. So the first example of faith is Abel - whose life was cut short when his brother murdered him. It does not reassure us that a life of faith will be long or happy. On the other hand there are examples of God's ability and willingness to rescue his people. Those who lived by faith "shut the mouths of lions, quenched the raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength after being weak, became mighty in battle and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead - they were raised to life again."
Yet the writer does not stop there. Honest and realistic, he also reminds us that some people of faith "were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword --- (they) were afflicted and mistreated."
All of these God fearers - those who were miraculously saved and those who God allowed to suffer and to die - they have or will have their reward. The path for each of us will be different - some easy, some very difficult paths. We simply walk by faith trusting that whatever God allows into our lives will bring honour to Him, if we continue to faithfully endure.
I think of this as I read of the pastor who was sentenced to die in Iran. He apparently will have a new trial, I read this morning. This dear Christian brother may ultimately be released, remain in prison for life, or be executed. Only God knows. His calling is to remain faithful whatever happens. Our calling is to pray for him and for other believers like him, who in God's sovereign will, suffer for their faith. Theirs is a difficult but high calling. With them may we live each day in obedient faith.
However the Bible is always honest and clear. Living by faith in obedience to God does not guarantee an easy life nor does it guarantee that things will all work out fine in the end - at least not the end of earthly life. So the first example of faith is Abel - whose life was cut short when his brother murdered him. It does not reassure us that a life of faith will be long or happy. On the other hand there are examples of God's ability and willingness to rescue his people. Those who lived by faith "shut the mouths of lions, quenched the raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength after being weak, became mighty in battle and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead - they were raised to life again."
Yet the writer does not stop there. Honest and realistic, he also reminds us that some people of faith "were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword --- (they) were afflicted and mistreated."
All of these God fearers - those who were miraculously saved and those who God allowed to suffer and to die - they have or will have their reward. The path for each of us will be different - some easy, some very difficult paths. We simply walk by faith trusting that whatever God allows into our lives will bring honour to Him, if we continue to faithfully endure.
I think of this as I read of the pastor who was sentenced to die in Iran. He apparently will have a new trial, I read this morning. This dear Christian brother may ultimately be released, remain in prison for life, or be executed. Only God knows. His calling is to remain faithful whatever happens. Our calling is to pray for him and for other believers like him, who in God's sovereign will, suffer for their faith. Theirs is a difficult but high calling. With them may we live each day in obedient faith.
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