Hebrews 11d Commentary
Faith opens the saint’s eyes to an entirely new value system. Some things become more important than others. “Others were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even greater resurrection”. Verse 35.
What would make one give up the comfort of home and a steady income for a life on the run? Wandering in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. You guess it’s because they have found a pearl of great value. They are ready to give up everything for it!
We have commented on Abel’s sacrifice. The term “sacrifice” isn’t great as it comes with a sense of duty and ‘loss’. The right term would be “offering” – the term used in the NIV Bible. It is a term that defines the attitude of the worshipper. They are happy to do it. It springs from a desire to have fellowship – to honor a loving relationship.
Love flows from faith. Look at the Christians. Do they hate the Romans or the Jews for killing their Savior? No. On the contrary, they feel the death of their Savior was divinely orchestrated. They are happy. Do they hate their persecutors? No. Instead, they love and pray for them. It is often difficult to define suffering for the saint. You often don’t see it in their faces. They are covered by the peace of their Master, the LORD Jesus Christ.
What could be more important to a man than his own life? Only faith can answer that question. Now imagine the greatness of what is to come if the scripture still thinks of the present as nothing! “Since God planned something better for us…”
Faith is in the relationship – an understanding that on the other side of the equation is the living God. We can interact with this God in our walk. We can soak ourselves in the love of the Sovereign God. Our own lives become less important because there is a bigger life in God. Faith takes us places beyond the normal.
This chapter invites all to have this ‘faith experience’ daily. Then the living God becomes part of the equation, not only on the other side but also on this side.
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LOVING SCRIPTURE 