A little over three years ago, I wrote a blog with the above title. Over the past few years, I have chewed on this message from time to time. Over time, God has opened my eyes to fresh thoughts on the subject that I’d like to share with you. At the heart of it, it is the same, but with some expanded thought.
When you’re reading Hebrews Chapter 12, you have to realize it’s connection to chapter 11. Chapter 11 is known as the “Hall of Fame of Faith” of the Bible. It tells us of those great men and women of faith, and how, in spite of facing insurmountable odds; Despite facing incredible trials; Despite facing personal persecution in many cases, they persevered, they stood “the test of time’ in their faith and are now forever recorded in Hebrews 11.
So the writer to the Hebrews is writing to encourage the readers to persevere in their own personal faith walk as he begins to transition to chapter 12. And he begins this transition by using the word “Therefore.” Now whenever you see the word “therefore or wherefore” you are supposed to stop and ask “what it’s there for.”
Realizing that, helps us to understand that the writer is beginning this transition in Hebrews 12:1-2 with a full view of chapter 11 in mind. This helps us to really put in perspective the thought the writer is trying to convey. And he begins by relating this walk of faith to a race:
Hebrews 12 verse 1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience (With perseverance) the race that is set before us . . .”
And in verse 2, he tells us how to win that race, “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 is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
For just a moment of your time, I just want to pull out that statement, “Looking unto Jesus the Author . . .”
- WHAT IS AN AUTHOR?
Well, He is the Author of our faith. The Greek word for Author is archaegos which means “chief, prince, writer, leader, one who takes the lead in anything and thus becomes an example.” Another definition is “pioneer, a trail blazer – someone who paves the way.” So the writer of Hebrews is talking about Jesus being the chief leader, the trail blazer of our faith.
I am thankful today for Hebrews chapter 11, and for all of those Heroes of the Faith “who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens . . .”
I am also thankful for the Heroes of faith in my own personal life who have played a significant part in helping me become who I am.
But folks, if it wasn’t for Jesus Christ being the trail blazer of our faith, the leader of our faith, the captain of our faith, we would all be “most miserable.”
- WHAT IS HE WRITING?
In Jeremiah 1:5, God began writing the story of our lives even before we were born. “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee . . .”
Of course, He is speaking specifically here to the prophet Jeremiah, as He tells him he would be a prophet to the nations. But I believe whenever you read the Bible, there are 3 essential questions you have to ask:
- What did it mean then? (The actual context of the story)
- What does it mean now? (How the context of the story fits in our world now)
- What does it mean to me? (Making a life application)
When I was attending Bible College years ago, my Homiletic’s professor made a statement that has stuck with me for years. He said, “Y’all, I’m afraid that If we’re not careful, we will tend to take ourselves out of the Bible stories.” What that means to me is this – sometimes, because we’ve become so familiar with some of the stories of the Bible, they have simply become “just stories in the Bible” and we tend to forget that they were just people, like you and I are people today.
- They had emotions and feelings back then, just like you and I have emotions and feelings today;
- They had trials of their faith back then, just like we have trials of our faith today;
- They battled their sin nature back then, just like you and I battle our sin nature today;
- They had times of failure, just like you and I have failures;
- They had moments of anger, just like you and I have moments of anger;
- They had moments of great joy, just like you and I have moments of great joy;
- They had some mountaintop experiences, just like you and I have had some mountaintop experiences;
- They spent time in the valley, just like and I have spent time in the valley.
I say all of that to say this, when we read the stories in the Bible, whether they are about Old Testament folks or New Testament folks, whether they are stories about David, or Peter, or Paul, or John, our tendency is to say, “Well they’re just different than us.” And the truth is, they’re not. So, when you are reading the Bible, don’t just read the “stories” of the people back then, but own those Scriptures in your personal life.
CONCLUSION:
For us collectively as the Church, The Author and Finisher of our Faith is writing a story. It is a story with ups and downs, with good days and bad days; a story with mountain top experiences and times in the valley. But, I want to assure you, since this is a story that He is writing, we can rest in the fact that He is building His church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
When it comes to us individually, every one of our lives tells a different story. We have all taken different paths on our faith journey. Some journeys have been on the straight and narrow, while many, if not most (just like the Children of Israel) did not take the most direct route in our lives to get here. Regardless of how we got on our faith journey, I want you to understand that Jesus is the Author of the story being written in your life. Since He is the Author of our faith, you can rest assured that no matter how many obstacles you have on your journey – you will never have a roadblock.
He is writing a story in your life: it’s a story with ups and downs, a story with highs and lows, yet, it is a story that He will finish in your life. And with the same confidence the Apostle had over 2000 years ago, you and I can be “. . . confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”
God is writing a story in your life. Let me ask, are you satisfied with the way the story is going in your life right now? Maybe, you need to write a letter to God on your heart!
Fighting for My Pea Patch 