On August 31 we began a new study in Sunday School entitled “Heroes of Faith,” in which we will be looking at men and women both from Scripture and from Christian history which exemplify a life of faith. We began our study with a look at Hebrews chapter 11 and the list of such heroes of faith as Abraham, Joseph, Moses and many others who are nameless but, nevertheless belong to what the writer to the Hebrews calls “a great cloud of witnesses” (12:1) testifying to us of what a life of faith looks like and of the faithfulness of God to all who embark on a life of faith.
The writer to the Hebrews begins the passage with a partial but profound definition of what faith is, saying, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (11:1). The English words “assurance” and “conviction” might give the impression that faith is a subjective thing, but the Greek words are closer to the objective ideas of “reality” and “proof.” The point is that though the object of our faith is “not seen” it is nevertheless very real and though it is “hoped for” it is absolutely certain.
The writer goes on to characterize the life of faith as a journey to a “better country” (v. 14-16). That better country is not like this world, which we know through our perceptions. Rather, the better country is a reality that cannot be seen by our human eyes but is nevertheless even more real. We are inclined to assume that reality is limited to what we see or perceive, but Scripture insists that reality actually has nothing to do with our perceptions. Rather, it is the word of God, the purposes of God and the promises of God which define reality; and the people of faith are those who, by virtue of their trust in God and his word, have come to realize that they live in that reality, which is so much bigger and more wonderful than the small sliver of reality we are able to perceive with our senses. And having come to realize that, they no longer orient their lives to this world, which is only temporary and is passing away, but to the bigger reality, which encompasses all things, including this world, and stretches out into eternity.
In 1 Corinthians 15, Paul emphasizes that this world, as vast as it is, is only temporary. It is passing away. He also says that we, as human beings, were made not only to inhabit this world, but ultimately to inhabit the better country, the kingdom of God. So, he says, “I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable…For the perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (v. 50, 53).
Over the past several weeks I have had more than the usual number of conversations with people whose earthly bodies are wearing out, and for whom life in this world is not what it used to be. Those conversations have reinforced for me that, even though my body is still strong, this world and this life, which I fret over and invest so much of myself in, is passing away. We spend so much energy building castles of sand which the tides of time will all too quickly engulf and wash away. But there is a better country!; a city not built by human hands, “whose designer and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). It is that city, that better country, which is really real. The people who live by faith realize that they live in that bigger reality, and that completely changes everything: their hopes and aspirations; the source of their joy; what they consider valuable and important; and even their suffering and loss. May the Spirit of God give us eyes to see what is really real and strengthen us to live our lives as those who belong to the “better country.”
Pastor Jon