I'm about to lay on you some astounding biblical insight. Here it is. Ready? In the book of Hebrews, chapter 11 is the well-known "faith chapter". Okay, here's the insight. Chapter 11 is between chapters 10 and 12. Yes! Check it out for yourself if you don't believe me.
Okay, perhaps not mind boggling. Maybe you're not amazed at the information. But there is something there that might benefit you. It did me.
Hebrews 10 talks about recalling "the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings" (Heb 10:32). The author says, "You had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one" (Heb 10:34). That's the idea. The idea is maintaining confidence (v 35) and full assurance (v 22), holding fast the confession of our hope (v 23) and stirring up one another to love and good works (v 24). "Hang in there!" the writer is saying. "You have something better!" So they "joyfully accepted the plundering" of their property because they knew that their property was not the valuable possession; they had a "better" and "abiding" possession.
Hebrews 12 says, "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" (Heb 12:1-2). Do you see the same theme? Jesus, "for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross." The shame was of no consequence because He had a better, abiding possession.
Note, then, that Hebrews 11 is stuck between Hebrews 10 and Hebrews 12, and you may begin to see the "faith chapter" in a new light. Yes, the chapter is about faith. But what is specifically in mind? Yes, it can generally be applied to all matters of faith, but the author is specifically referring to one thing: "All these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us" (Heb 1:39-40). Something better. That's the specific point of faith in Hebrews 11. So Abel offered a sacrifice in faith and was murdered for it. Enoch walked with God and "was not". Abraham was promised countless seed and never saw it. And so it goes. "These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth" (Heb 11:13).
If you're paying attention, you will know that we are living in troubling times. We Americans have enjoyed certain freedom and safety not necessarily afforded to everyone. We have enjoyed a constitutional promise of the "the free exercise" of religion and speech. So it may come as a shock to find that we're living on the trailing edge of that promise. Now you can be sued for holding that a particular behavior is a sin. Business folk are losing court (unless, of course, you're not Christian). A short while ago a family in my part of the world was cited for having Bible studies in their home. "It isn't zoned for that." Huh? Marriage is on the chopping block. If you're paying attention, we are losing our freedom of religion (primarily as Christians) and gaining increasing consequences. Good times are not around the corner.
The question, then, is what are you going to do? Are you going to go do court and demand your rights? Are you going to sue your employer, your neighbor, your government, to be sure you get what's coming to you? Are you going to defend your human rights with all the force you can muster? Or are you going to joyfully accept the plundering of your property knowing that you have a better, more abiding possession? Are you going to stand on faith for promises you may not receive in this life? Are you going to look to Jesus who considered the scorn as inconsequential and looked to the joy set before Him? I suppose, if you consider that "Christian" means "follower of Christ", the answer should be obvious. And -- just a hint. It's not "defend my rights to the bloody end".
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