I Made It!
Pro Football is back! For those of you who love to root for your favorite team, that's news you have been anxiously waiting for. The "kickoff" to the NFL season is always the Hall of Fame game and the induction of former great NFL players, enshrined forever, into the Hall of Fame for future generations to be inspired by. The writer of Hebrews devoted part of his letter to celebrating those who were in God's Hall of Fame, so that beleaguered Christians of all generations would know their stories and be inspired to hold on to their own faith through their trials. Even though they couldn't visibly see what God was doing, the writer of Hebrews wanted every Christian to know that God is faithful to fulfill His promises. I pray right now that God will send you the encouragement you need to hold on to your faith in Him.
Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. (Heb. 11:1-3) The writer of Hebrews focuses on the necessity of faith for the Christian. First he defines faith as our hope in the manifestation of what God has promised, salvation and everlasting life with Him. Even though we can not physically see those things right now, faith makes us confident that the Lord is faithful to His promises. The writer underscores the power of faith in God's kingdom. We don't normally put as much credence in what we can't see, but God spoke the world into existence (visible made from the invisible). Additionally, the recipients of this letter all knew their great ancestors who were commended by God for one reason only. Not because of their great accomplishments, but for their faith in God. Faith in God is essential for a Christian. Hold on to yours and be confident that he is faithful to fulfill His promises!
By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. 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. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. (Heb. 11:4-8) Now the writer of Hebrews picks up on his assertion that the great ancestors had been commended by God because of their faith. And He walks his readers down the corridors of the faith "Hall of Fame" and speaks of their examples. He testified to the common thread that Abel, Enoch, Noah and Abraham all shared. They all demonstrated that they trusted God and were faithful to Him even when they couldn't physically see the manifestation of what He had promised. Not only did these great ancestors have faith, but it is the only thing by which God judges greatness and is pleased. Greatness in God's kingdom is measured by one thing...faith. Are you developing a Hall of Fame faith?
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. (Heb. 11:13-16) All of these "Hall of Famers" lived by faith and still maintained their faith at the very end of their lives. Although they walked with God and were blessed by God during their lives, they did not see God's promises fully manifested in the physical before they died. Like Abraham who was promised a land but never got to inhabit it as his own during his earthly life, these Hall of Famers lived on earth knowing that they were foreigners here and knowing that their true home was in heaven. And because of their faith, God is not ashamed to have them with Him in heaven. And He has a place that He has prepared for all those who live by faith. Do you realize that as a Christian, your true home is in heaven? If so, how does that change how you act and react to things here on earth?
Every NFL Hall of Famer gets a place in Canton, a gold jacket and an opportunity to talk about their journey to the Hall of Fame. For Christians who keep the faith and hold on to the hope of God's promises, they will get a place in heaven, a golden crown and the opportunity to talk to the Lord about their journey. What a joyous occasion that will be, when we are able to look back and see how our trials and tribulations were stepping stones to strengthen our faith and get us to the ultimate prize... to live for eternity in heaven with God, where we can say "I made it!" into God's "Hall of Fame".
Blessings,
Rev. Glenn
Also, listen to my brother, Rev. Marvin Sapp, singing "Never would have made it". Click here and be blessed!
