(Hebrews 11: 29-12: 2)
My parents, like all parents, were concerned from time to time over the company I was keeping and what people would think about those associations. Guys that were a little rough around the edges or somewhat obnoxious, and girls of questionable reputations or backgrounds. Sure, they all had their issues and character flaws, but they always had my back and never let me down. Regardless of their limitations I figured I was running in pretty good company through the good times and the bad. They were there when it counted, and I hoped I was there when they needed someone to run with them.
And keeping good company is what the writer of Hebrews is talking about in our scripture reading for today. The preacher starts out talking about Moses when he references how, by faith, they crossed the Red Sea as if they were on dry land, but when the Egyptians tried it, they were drowned. It took faith for Moses to give up his place in the palace, but he could do it because he saw the fleeting nature of great wealth and prestige. It was his faith that helped him choose leadership of an oppressed people over luxury in the court of Pharoah. But, by faith, he was able to look forward to the reward God would give instead of accepting temporary comfort, power, and prestige in the present. The writer continues by mentioning others whose faith was noteworthy like the faithful who marched around Jericho for seven days until the walls fell, and the faith of Rahab the prostitute who risked it all by hiding some Israelite spies in her home. The preacher knows his or her audience and their knowledge of the heroic and faithful acts of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets upon which the nation of Israel was built. The writer says: Through faith they conquered kingdoms, brought about justice, realized promises, shut the mouths of lions, put out raging fires, escaped from the edge of the sword, found strength in weakness, were mighty in war, and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured and refused to be released so they could gain a better resurrection. Yeah, everybody remembers the heroes, those famous individuals who came riding in on a white horse to save the day. They’re revered, honored, and were held up as examples of righteousness. But, the writer continues, others experienced public shame by being taunted and whipped; they were even put in chains and in prison. They were stoned to death, they were cut in two, and they died by being murdered by swords. They went around wearing the skins of sheep and goats, needy; oppressed, and mistreated. The preacher says that the world didn’t deserve them, that they wandered around in deserts, mountains, caves, and holes in the ground. They were shunned and unwanted.
I honestly do not think that the writer of Hebrews, probably a believer with deep Jewish roots himself or herself, is trying to shame his or her readers. Rather, I think, he or she is reminding them that they are running in good company if they model their faith race after these righteous known and unknown believers of the covenant that God made with Abraham. If they stay strong in their faith and reject what the world has to offer, they can stand upon the shoulders of these strong men and women of faith and serve as an example to others who may be questioning their faith and feel drawn to the temporary pleasures the world has to offer. Remember, all that glitters is not gold.
And that’s the message for us today. It’s easy to be deceived by the temporary benefits of wealth, popularity, status, and achievement, and to be blind to the long-range benefits of God’s kingdom. It’s our faith that helps us look beyond the world’s value system to see the eternal values of God’s kingdom. The writer wants us to understand that true wealth is eternal, it’s gained in service to God during our time here on earth, where our riches are stored up in heaven where neither moth nor rust can destroy. Consider the most powerful or well-known people in our world and ask yourself how many got where they are by being humble, self-effacing, and gentle? Oh, I’m sure there are a few, but not many, and they are the rare exception to the rule of the rich getting richer while the poor get poorer and poorer. Why do we idolize these people, the rich and powerful, those who brashly and unashamedly boast about being rich and powerful? Do we honestly think any of these people would use their wealth, power, or prestige to make the lives of the least of Christ’s brothers and sisters any better? Again, there may be a few out there but they are few and far between. The reason they have all they have is that they only give it away if it benefits them, not others. They support those who can help them keep what they have and make it easier to get more. They brag about being smart and using tax loopholes to avoid even paying their fair share. If they manage to get past Saint Peter, they’ll undoubtedly be surprised to find that Mother Teresa has a nicer room than they do. They are not the ones who will change the world for the better.
This is what the author meant when he or she said: All these people didn’t receive what was promised, though they were given approval for their faith. God promised something better for us so they wouldn’t be made perfect without us. It’s coming and their sacrifices, all they did in service to God the Father, will not be for naught. They laid the groundwork for the first coming of Jesus Christ and, after we’ve done all that we can in our service to God, Christ will come again, and we all will be made perfect. But it’s our faith that helps us turn around and do what is right regardless of our past associations or the disapproval of others. We, too, can experience our own victories through Christ just like those of old mentioned by the writer of Hebrews. Our victories over oppressors may be like that of the Old Testament saints, but more likely, our victories will be directly related to the role God wants us to play in our everyday lives right here where we are needed the most. You know, those small acts of love, kindness, and generosity without thinking of what it will cost us.
Now, we must understand that having a steadfast faith in God does not guarantee a happy, carefree life. We would be incredibly naïve to believe that. Our faith and the values of the world are on an inevitable collision course. On the contrary, our faith almost guarantees us some form of abuse from the world but if our faith is as strong as it possibly can be these abuses and disdain directed our way just rolls off our backs as we consider the source. Faithful living is edgy, unpredictable, adventuresome, and scary. It’s quite a ride, and while we may never see the purposes of our suffering, of our selfless sacrifices, we can take comfort in knowing we are serving the greater good and that God will keep his promises to us regardless, just as he is using us to keep his promises to others.
We conclude this portion of the preacher’s letter with him or her stating: So then let’s also run the race that is laid out in front of us, since we have such a great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. He’s reminding his readers that all of those examples of people he just gave lived by faith and have completed their race, and those reading his words still have their own race to finish. The race we run is run together with a great assembly of people who not only witness what we are doing but also testify to it. Others have run the race and won, and their witness stirs us to run and win also. Our race is our witness, our testimony. The preacher then encourages us to throw off any extra baggage we are carrying, to get rid of the sin that trips us up, that slows us down, and to fix our eyes on Jesus, faith’s pioneer and perfecter. Fix our eyes upon the person who leads the race, Jesus, the one who goes before us.
The Christian life involves hard work. It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God, to run with endurance, and to struggle against sin with the power of the Holy Spirit and the examples of those who have gone on before us and finished their race and are now at rest. So, think for a moment about those you know who have already run their race. What is it that you admired most about them? Their endurance? Their faithfulness? Their determination to stay the course? And ask yourself how is your race going and are you running in good company?
Let us pray.
Merciful God, how we praise you for the faith of our fathers, those who have gone on before us who, in spite of dungeon, fire, and sword, stood tall and ran their race with grace and righteousness. We thank you for their example and we will strive in our own way to win all nations to you showing them by our witness that the through the truth that come from you we shall all be truly free. Move us through the example of your son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, to love both friend and foe in all our strife and to preach your word of love. Faith of our fathers, holy faith! We will be true to thee till death. In Jesus’ name, we pray, Amen.