In Hebrews 11 we are given a vision of the heroes of faith. The first had to give up his life because his brother hated him, and concerning the last ones we are told: “They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, they were tempted, they were slain with the sword, they went about in sheepskins, in goat-skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated, wandering in deserts and mountains and caves.” Were these heroes? Yes, in the judgment of God! It is written that they “out of weakness were made strong” (11:34). What does this mean? Through suffering they became able to bear much suffering; by enduring they were made strong to endure; by being defeated they learned to conquer. Because Jesus for three whole years had endured Judas, He could cry out from the cross, “Father, forgive them.” Because He had experienced being denied by His own, He could bear to be denied by a whole people. In the Christian life our relation is to a Person, not to a doctrine. He left us an example. We may be led astray by doctrines, and we may grow weary of them, but we never grow weary of looking up to the Lamb and walking in His footsteps, especially in our time when so many conflicting voices call: “Here is the Christ!” and “Lo! He is there!” He who follows the Lamb has once and for all given up his own will, his own ways. He has no purposes and interests of his own. He allows his Shepherd to cancel his own wishes and plans. He observes and understands that on this way there is no longer room for a self-possessed life; There are ways in which the believer must walk alone with his God. When Abraham went with his son up to Mount Moriah, he went alone. He left his wife at home and his servants at the foot of the mountain. None of them would have understood the way he was to walk. Therefore he did not say that he was going away to sacrifice, but to worship. The first Christians were much better acquainted with this Way because they saw many who walked in it, some who with joy sold their possessions and parted them to all, others who dwelt in caves and dens and gave up not only their possessions but also their lives. For they did not wish to be above the Lamb
Posted on: Tue, 25 Mar 2014 00:44:44 +0000
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