WILL THEY FIND US FAITHFUL?
Hebrews 11:1-12:4 (Bible quotes are from NKJV)
INTRODUCTION
As I was preparing the sermon for this Memorial Day weekend service, I decided to do a little research regarding this particular holiday. Let’s take a quick Memorial Day quiz to see how much you know about this holiday.
Question #1 – Memorial Day is a day for...
A) Picnics & BBQ!
B) NASCAR racing!
C) Remembering and honoring the brave men and women who gave their lives serving our country.
You’re right, the answer is “C”. Maybe that was a little too easy. Let’s try another one.
Question #2 – First known as “Decoration Day”, Memorial Day originated after which war to commemorate fallen soldiers?
A) American Revolutionary War
B) American Civil War
C) World War I
That was a little more tricky. The correct answer is “B”, it originated after the American Civil War between the Union and the Confederacy.
OK, let’s do one last question.
Question #3 – How should the American flag be properly displayed on Memorial Day?
A) At HALF mast all day
B) At HALF mast until noon, then at FULL mast the rest of the day
C) At FULL mast all day
The correct answer is “B”.
The answer to that last question surprised me. When I asked around, it seems like most people I asked also had no idea that the flag was only flown at half-staff until noon. So I did a little more research to try and figure out why this protocol is used on Memorial Day. Here’s the best explanation that I could find:
"The half-staff position remembers the more than one million men and women who gave their lives in service of their country. At noon their memory is raised by the living, who resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight for liberty and justice for all." [source Wikipedia... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Day]
We gain courage and resolution by remembering the lives and sacrifices of those who came before us...on whose shoulders we now stand. Memorial Day is a time of remembrance...a time to reflect upon those who paid the price for our freedom with their lives. The Bible has many instances where we are called to remember...through feasts, festivals, temples, altars, standing stones, the taking of communion, even rainbows. In each case, God wants us to remember the past, learn from it, and resolve to live our lives for Him. This is the case in our text today in the book of Hebrews.
Please turn in your Bibles to Hebrews chapter 11. We’re going to read starting in verse 39 and continue through chapter 12 verse 4...
“39 And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, 40 God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us.
1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin.”
Let's PRAY...
I. REMEMBER THE FALLEN
The authorship of Hebrews is a mystery to us today, but Hebrews was a letter or sermon that was directed toward Jewish Christians facing increasing persecution for their faith. They were beginning to doubt that Jesus truly was the Messiah, and are considering the thought of returning back to the comforts of the formality and structure of Judaism. Jesus hasn’t yet returned as the victorious king they’re expecting, and their freedom from the old Mosaic Law made possible through Jesus Christ is definitely outside their comfort zone. Put severe persecution on top of it all, and you have some Christians who are about ready to throw in the towel.
To address this growing unrest, the author focuses most of Hebrews on explaining Jesus’ sacrificial work and the supremacy of Christ over the old law. At the end of chapter 10, believers are exhorted to not cast off their confidence in Christ and to not return to their old ways. He then launches into chapter 11 with what’s been called the “hall of faith” or the “faith chapter”, urging us all to remember those who came before us...to remember their faith, their obedience, their perseverance...to Remember the Fallen.
[quickly run through the “by faith” examples in chapter 11]
There are many contemporary examples as well... One of the more famous ones that comes to mind is how, by faith, Jim Elliot and 4 other missionaries took the good news of Jesus Christ to the Auca Indians in Ecuador. Their bodies found downstream after being brutally murdered by the Aucas. And then, by faith, the wife of Jim Elliot, their daughter, and the sister of one of the other slain missionaries returned to Ecuador to the same Auca tribe who had killed Jim and the other missionaries. Through their faithfulness, God brought life through salvation to many Aucas and encouragement and inspiration to thousands of believers worldwide.
Examples of faith and perseverance are too numerous to mention. Look with me at Hebrews 11 verses 32-38...
"32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground."
Now go back a little to verses 13-16...
"13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."
Look at that again more closely, and pay attention to the key phrases that bookend these verses....“These all died in faith” and “Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God”.
WOW!!! How would you like that to be said of you? That God is not ashamed to be called your God?
With the flag at half-staff on Memorial Day, we remember our fallen soldiers. Their sacrifice gives us strength... courage... conviction... That what we have, and the freedoms we enjoy are worth fighting for.
Hebrews 11 calls to remembrance those who unashamedly lived their lives in faith and obedience to God, so that we will take courage and strength and conviction from their example... That the freedom we have in Christ is worth sacrificing our lives for. We Remember the Fallen.
II. RESOLVE TO BE FOUND FAITHFUL
In that remembrance, we also Resolve to be Found Faithful.
At noon on Memorial Day, the flag is not left at the half-staff position of remembrance of those who have fallen. At noon, the flag is hoisted up high to indicate our resolve not to let their sacrifice be in vain, but to rise up in their stead and continue the fight. We are to remember and honor the past, but we’re not supposed to live there!
Look again at verses 1 thru 4 from chapter 12...
"1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin."
The “great cloud of witnesses” that we see in verse 1 isn’t referring to people who are watching us. This refers to the heroes of the faith mentioned in chapter 11, whose lives of faith stand in testimony of how to please God. They are witnesses because of their testimony. Verse 39 at the end of chapter 11 says, “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith...”
We are to be inspired by the godly examples these saints set during their lives. These are real men and women whose lives of faith encourage others to live that way, too. That the cloud is referred to as “great” indicates vast numbers. Millions of believers have gone before us, each bearing witness to the life of faith we now live.
We are encouraged to run with endurance the race that is set before us. A lifetime of obedience to Christ isn’t easy. Running the race and finishing well takes endurance. The race the author of Hebrews is talking about isn’t referring to life in general... It’s referring to the life of a Christian... of a true believer in Jesus Christ. The starting line of this race is the moment you surrender your life to Jesus Christ and it ends with your dying breath.
As believers, can we get tangled up in sin? Of course we can! We all experience times when we love the things of this world more than the things of God. We struggle with pride, selfishness, greed, lust.
The Apostle Paul says it like this in his letter to the church in Rome in Romans 13:11-14...
“11 And do this, knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep; for now our salvation is nearer than when we first believed. 12 The night is far spent, the day is at hand. Therefore let us cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly, as in the day, not in revelry and drunkenness, not in lewdness and lust, not in strife and envy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.”
And to the church at Corinth he writes (1 Corinthians 9:26-27)...
“26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.”
Remembering the faithful who came before us, we must Resolve to be Found Faithful as well. We need to set aside the sin that so easily ensnares us, and run the race with endurance.
III. REFLECT ON THE FINISHER OF OUR FAITH
Endurance is needed because we will face times of great difficulty as believers. Life itself is difficult. Our great propensity to sin results in great consequences. The consequences of sin are all around us... death, disease, disasters, suffering. However, as believers in Jesus Christ, not only are we faced with the difficulties and challenges of life in general, we also share in the sufferings of Christ. As believers, God continues to refine us and mature our faith so that over time we become more and more like Christ, reflecting His character. To become like Christ means we will share in His suffering.
The apostle Peter writes:
“12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.” (1 Peter 4:12-13)
James, the half-brother of Jesus writes:
“2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
We are naturally inclined to desire comfort and pleasure. Why would anyone intentionally choose the more difficult path where suffering is not only a possibility, it’s guaranteed?
It’s because this is the only road that leads to eternal life. All other roads lead to eternal damnation. Jesus says in Matthew chapter 7...
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it.” (Matt 7:13-14)
That narrow gate is Jesus Christ Himself,
“Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)
When we suffer for the cause of Christ, or because of our faith, we may be tempted to deny Him. Like Peter did. There is already tremendous persecution of Christians around the world. The Bible promises us that persecution and suffering will get even worse before the end comes. That’s why we must Reflect on the Finisher of our Faith... [READ Hebrews 12:3-4]
Why did Jesus endure? Because of the “joy set before Him”. Same is true for us today. Our joy is set before us as well.
Look back at the end of chapter 11, at verses 39 and 40: “that they should not be made perfect apart from us”...When the final resurrection happens, and all believers from every nation, tribe and tongue are gathered together....THAT is when we will ALL be made perfect together. THAT is when we will receive the promised reward.
CONCLUSION
The message that God has for every believer here today, is to ask ourselves, “Will those who come after us find us faithful?” Did we endure to the very end?
We should look back and Remember the Fallen, those men and women of faith preceding us. They lived their lives in obedience and faith until the very end, suffering persecution, sometimes unto death. We honor their conviction and perseverance, and draw courage from their memory.
Like those who came before us, we too must Resolve to be Found Faithful. Shrinking back isn’t an option.
When we are getting weary and discouraged and feel like giving up, we must Reflect on the Finisher of our Faith, Jesus Christ.
Will we be found faithful?
If you’re here this morning, and you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, your race has not yet started. On Memorial Day, we remember those who gave their lives so we can be free. Jesus Christ gave His life so that we can have freedom from sin and death.
[give Gospel presentation & invitation]
Let’s PRAY
