Hebrews 11 reminds me of old photos. Some of us have beloved pictures of blissful times; often, they include people that are no longer with us. Even the most perfect moments will leave us longing. Today’s lesson is that there is no heaven on earth. The writer begins with a wonderful definition: “Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see”. We tend to behave according to what we believe to be true. That is, faith produces action. The author’s first assertion is: “the universe was formed at God’s command”. Someone once said, if you can accept the first sentence in the Bible, the rest is easy. He portrays heroes from Jewish history. There is not a single mention of a religious requirement. He begins with the first act of worship recorded: “By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain… he was commended as righteous”. Abel was killed by his brother out of jealous pride. The image offered is of righteousness calling out against rebellion: “by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead”. He continues: “By faith Enoch… did not experience death”, adding, Enoch “pleased God.” The writer concludes, “without faith it is impossible to please God”. The list continues: “By faith Noah… in holy fear built an ark to save his family”. He spent 70 years building a boat in the desert, preaching daily by his actions, “and became heir of the righteousness”. Yet no one outside his own family entered.
Next, he contemplates the most revered man of all, “By faith Abraham… obeyed and… made his home in the promised land”. They waited 25 years, and “by faith… Sarah… was enabled to bear children”. Though over 100, from this one man “came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky”. The author adds an important commentary. All died in their faith without seeing the promise finalized; “they only saw them… from a distance”. All of us long for complete fulfillment, but we will only get small tastes this side of eternity.
Every name mentioned speaks of a future resurrection hope. “By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice”, believing that “God could even raise the dead”. “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob… By faith Jacob… blessed each of Joseph’s sons”. “By faith Moses… refused… the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward”. “By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood”. “By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land”. After all of this, Moses was given God’s Law. Ironically, the Law Giver did not enter the land because he misrepresented God’s mercy. He continues: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell”. He then lists men and women that displayed unimaginable courage, concluding with: “David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised”. They were common people, “whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle”. All of them rose to the challenge through faith. He adds a litany of real persecution faced by the early church: “Some faced jeers and flogging… chains and imprisonment… death by stoning… sawed in two… killed by the sword… destitute, persecuted and mistreated”. He concludes “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised”. The Bible presents images of the past and the future. All tell the story of a grand reunion. “God had planned something better for us… only together with us would they be made perfect”. The cross is a picture of perfect unity with God (vertical beam), and with our brothers and sisters (horizontal beam). My friend, please do not put your hope in making things perfect on earth. It will surely leave you disappointed.