We have just finished out another season of women’s bible study. We spent nineteen studies looking into the book of Hebrews. My admiration for the authors passion and skill to present the sufficiency and superiority of Jesus has increased to the nth degree! Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit the author was moved, I believe even captivated, in using repeated words and phrases that have become so familiar. Much better, more excellent, more glory, so much the more, better things, better covenant, better promises, a better possession, great, greater and more perfect. Last but not least we have the words hope and hold fast, perseverance and endurance throughout this book. While studying this book I noticed how careful mention was made of the need for the Hebrew Christians to hold fast. That phrase was carefully crafted in conjuction with the return of Christ. God wanted His people to remember that there will be an end to the here and now. Eternity is the reality so don’t lose sight!
In Hebrews 11 we are shown in living color what faith is and what it looked like in the lives of those who have gone before us. It’s as though the author wanted his audience to know that if you think God has failed you because being a Christian has brought it share of hardships, take another look.
God brought to the remembrance of His people what their forefathers and mothers endured, yet how they kept hoping against hope in the God who saved them and chose them to be a people for His own possession.
How then do we live. For the follower of Christ, we live between the here and now the seen and unseen. In his letters to the churches Paul always made a point to remind God’s people of their eternal destiny (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). Peter, speaking to suffering Christians, was intentional to put the spotlight on the eternal inheritance of the Christian (1 Peter 1: 3-9). James wrote to the church in chapter 5:8 “you too be patient; strength your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near.” It’s as though God is saying to His children, stay in this we are approaching that great and glorious day!
In (Romans 8:18-19) we read “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the eagerly awaiting creation waits for the revealing of the sons and daughters of God.”
When you take a closer look Paul is contrasting the glory with the suffering (8:18) “compare” (logizomai) means to calculate. Are we learning to calculate the glory that is coming to the present suffering? God never attempts to minimize our pain or asks us to dismiss the reality of it. He is saying that we must train our eyes to see it through a different lens, not our own. In vs. 24-25 we read “For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, through perseverance we wait eagerly for it.”
Elisabeth Elliot believed, “If we want real life, our hearts must be set on glory.” She set her goals on living for eternity, and that carried her through many trials in life.
Oh Jesus, keep us from being swallowed up in the here and now. May all of our moments and all of our days be lived with the rays of eternity guiding us home.