FAITH LOOKS FORWARD AND UP. Hebrews 11:37-40 We are reminded, as were the Hebrew believers who received this letter, that the work of God in this sinful world of darkness has the blood of martyrs soaked into it. The word “martyr” is the same as the word “witness.” To be a witness for our Lord Jesus Christ is a great privilege that is often accompanied by a high cost. To some people, it will mean being avoided, rejected, mocked, and hated. Others will be put out of their homes, denied as family members, humiliated, and falsely accused by false witnesses. Others have been, and still are, beaten, tortured, and killed because of their faith in Christ and faithfulness to Him.
The Jews carried out the executions of those found guilty by those who witnessed against them, being the ones to throw the first stone. The Lord Jesus mentioned Zachariah, the son of Barachiah, being stoned. Stephen, the first martyr of the church, was stoned. Tradition (the Mishna) records that the evil King Manasseh had Jeremiah sawn in half. Justin Martyr wrote that the Jews sawed Isaiah “asunder” with a wooden saw.
Temptation finds its source in Satan, and those who faced stoning, being “sawn asunder,” and “slain with the sword” were tempted by strong opposition to turn aside from the path of faith, but they refused the temptation. Those who were banished from society because of their faith and who lost everything they had were those in whom God found delight. The Holy Spirit of God wrote that the world was not worthy of even having them in it.
This happened to faithful Hebrew saints in Old Testament times. In New Testament times, the same has happened to many in the “Dark Ages,” and to many groups of faithful saints throughout the whole Pilgrim Church. In many parts of the world today, the same things are happening to our brothers and sisters in Christ. God’s saving power and grace in times of persecution and opposition result in souls being saved from the wrath to come. Peaceful complacency on the part of God’s people is evidence of spiritual dearth and famine.
The witnesses in the ancient past had genuine faith, even though they did not see the fulfillment of Christ's promise of coming in their lifetimes. God has given those who live in New Testament times something better because the Son of God has come, died, and been raised again, and is seated in heaven. We have been raised with Him, and our position is “with Him.”
The veil has been torn in two, and by this new and living way, we can enter the presence of God through His Spirit. We have fellowship with God and His people through faith in Christ and the work of the Holy Spirit. There is wonderful unity among God’s people of faith: those who looked forward to the coming of Christ, those who know He has come to seek and save the lost, and those who know He is coming again, as He promised.
The spirits of people of faith who have died are already made perfect. There will be the perfecting of the bodies of God’s people when He comes again. When that fullness has been completed, we will be complete as spiritual beings: body, soul, and spirit.
Our position in Christ by faith is absolutely wonderful! We live, move, and have our being in Him spiritually, not merely as living people. We can live in the bright light of redeeming grace. We are called to represent our Lord Jesus here, and we live in the sure hope of the Lord’s return. He who died for us now lives for us as our Great High Priest! By the faith God has given us, we can enjoy many of the blessings of eternal life now as we wait in faith. We look up to His coming and move forward in faith while we live for Him here.
The unseen aspects of our Christian life may be hard for us to explain. Faith and grace go together to bring victory when our bodies are in pain. They are there to give us power when outward pressure is applied, to make us conform to what is around us rather than confiding in our Lord.
For those who live by sight alone, self-imposed limitations have closed their minds to life by faith and to divine illumination. It is only possible for them to rise to the height of their finite minds. Never will they see beyond experience to the vistas that true faith discovers.
When we live by faith in God, our universal view expands. We are able to see by faith the glories of far and distant lands, not only those that this earth contains, but also glories that are unlimited. A person of faith in the living God is not inhibited by human flesh. We know our Lord, whom we have not seen, and by faith we understand. Most of what is real here is not seen by mortal man. The inner human body, the galaxies, and the emotions are no less real than those things our eyes can see, and our hands can touch and feel.
To faith, the universe expands beyond the farthest star and sun. Faith sees the evidence of order that comes from the supremely intelligent One. Everything has its time and place, its plan and purpose to fulfill. Faith sees, behind it all, our Lord, who instills faith in us.