In Hebrews chapter 11 we read of a great cloud of witnesses – men and women of faith who, like witnesses in a courtroom, can testify personally of the faithfulness of God in their generation. Just a small section of the chapter reads this way:
Heb. 11:29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.
32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.
39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
In this passage and in the rest of the chapter, we read of those who through faith not only saw the amazing hand of God in miraculous power, but of those who went through great pain and hardship. In BOTH cases they proved their faith. In both good times and hard times – their faith sustained them, or rather, the Lord Himself sustained them through faith. This is true for us also. Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8). Nothing!
For the men and women we read of in Hebrews 11, their race is over. They ran their race in their generation. They are now off the world’s stage but can still inspire us by their testimony as we run ours.
The next words in Hebrews speak of the need for endurance in the race set before each of us. Inspired by the testimony of these men and women, we are to look NOT to these men and women of faith, but to the Lord who sustained them – “looking to Jesus” the Scripture says. When we come to the end of earthly hope, there is Jesus, and He is hope personified…. He is the source of our strength, our faith and our hope.
Heb. 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (the witnesses being the men and women we have just read about in the previous chapter), let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
There are so many twists and turns in the road of life; some of them become delightful blessings, while others are so painful and difficult. And yet, God is Sovereign over all and He is worthy of our complete trust whatever He has decreed for us.
My prayer is that 2021 will be a year truly blessed of the Lord for you.