Strength in Adversity

“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—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 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.  Women received back their dead by resurrection.  Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life.  Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment.  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—of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.  And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.” –Hebrews 11:32-40 (ESV) [Read Hebrews 11]

Hebrews 11 has oftentimes been referred to as “The Roll Call of Faith” chapter.  The writer began the chapter with a definition of faith that many of us perhaps have memorized in order to hold its meaning close in our minds:  “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Hebrews 1:1).  Faith is the persistent hope in the promises of God.  He will perform what He has promised.  With such a strong statement on faith, we are assured that it is not a blind trust, meaningless and vague, but such a faith is confident trust that God will perform His purposes, even though His followers may have to endure hardships and adversity. Then comes the listing of those heroes of the faith from the Old Testament, all of whom the readers of Hebrews would have studied about and been familiar with:  Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel—to list those named.  Then came those who are not personally named but who likewise endured great adversity:  prophets, those who stopped lions (Daniel, David, Samson), the many who were recipients of God’s promises, those who worked to strengthen the kingdom of Israel and escaped the edge of the sword, those who were made strong in times of weakness, the widow of Zarephath whose son was raised from the dead by the prophet Elisha.  Those who were mocked, flogged, imprisoned and beaten could have referred to both Old Testament saints and New Testament era Christians who were and would be persecuted for their faith.  What we learn from these verses is that those who trust in the Lord do not escape adversity and hardships but are granted strength to endure.  Those from the Old Testament era did not live to see the coming of the Messiah as had those early Christians to whom the letter of Hebrews was written.  Yet they died anticipating that future hope.  And the “something better for us” is the new covenant with the coming of the Son of God, and living with the knowledge that this promise of God was indeed fulfilled.  Assuredly, the saints of the Old Testament in this glorious roll-call of faith will partake of the same end-times perfection as those who have experienced the coming of God’s Son as the propitiation of our sins, as has been aptly stated:  “sinless selves in deathless resurrection bodies.” 

Then comes this very strong admonition which we should live by:  “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and the sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 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” (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Prayer:  Lord, You have not promised us that all will be easy on the Christian journey.  But you have promised Your Presence and Your Help.  May Americans of faith renew their vows before You and depend, as did the heroes of the faith, on Your strength in adversity. In Jesus’ name.  Amen.