Sure in hope, certain in blindness

"And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 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. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect"

Hebrews 11:32-40

What do you expect to gain for your faith? What does great faith look like? Looking at the first part of Hebrews 11 we might expect that with our faith will come great and awesome miracles, providence of wonderful things by God, a generally good life which achieved something. Indeed this may be the case, the presence of God may be seen by even the blind at heart wherever you are, great miracles of God may follow you. However we see in this passage a much different outcome that also came with great faith, being tortured, jailed, stoned, sawn in two generally much less attractive lives. Was this because of any lack of faith or disobedience of God? In no way! Rather great faith and obedience led them to such ends.

Our faith in God is not an insurance policy for this life. It is not a guarantee of material happiness or the 'good life'. Our faith guarantees only a life in which we have the ability to follow God, a life in which he is by our side, a life in which he will provide our true wants and needs. The only insurance it gives us is that against spiritual death.

Do not make foolish claims, or have foolish thoughts over a man's faith because of his riches, health or worldly 'success' or lack thereof. "These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised"


A call to battle
"Come gather 'round people
Wherever you roam
And admit that the waters
Around you have grown
And accept it that soon
You'll be drenched to the bone.
If your time to you
Is worth savin'
Then you better start swimmin'
Or you'll sink like a stone
For the times they are a-changin'"
Bob Dylan, The times are a changing

The time in which we live is a critical time. This is a time of change, a time where everything matters. We cannot stay silent, we cannot be idle for if we are the Lord will raise up others for his work and it will not be a joyful day for you.

"Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not think you can say to yourselves, 'We have Abraham as our father.' I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. The ax is already at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire" Matthew 3:8-10

"If a man is lazy, the rafters sag; if his hands are idle, the house leaks" Ecclesiastes 10:18

Let us rise up as the church in this time, in true unity.


True Unity
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called— one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all" Ephesians 4:1-6

Unity is through a bond of peace, built on the things we are one in along with the humility, gentleness, patience and love we show to each other. Unity is not agreement.


Words of wisdom
"Not all gospels are equal. We've fallen prey to this thinking that it is wrong to draw a distinction between various movements in Christianity or churches or Christians. After all we know it's wrong to judge. "Do not judge" Jesus said, "or you too will be judged" (Matthew 7:1). This is a good command, by the way. I'm all for it. But the meaning of this warning has got twisted into something else altogether. I find that many Christians are uncomfortable, unable even, to make distinctions between various churches and gospels. And they are really uncomfortable saying that one is better than another...Most Christians know the passage, but they think it means "Don't ever let yourself get in the mind-set where you think you are right and someone else is wrong."...Jesus also said "Stop judging by mere appearances and make a right judgement" (John 7:24)..."I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel --- which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one which we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned! As we have already said, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!" (Galations 1:6-9)... Do you see, not every gospel is equal, we need to say so." John Eldredge, Walking With God


Poetry

The birds cry out their last notes for the day
As the final wisps of the sun fade away
The fire flickers on into the night
And the dingo heads out to find his prey

Who would have thought such a land exists
With it's sunburnt plain and it's ocean bliss
With the drought of all droughts before the torrential rain
Who would have known of this before the first man came

The sun burns bright during the heat of day
Then the stars come out as the light fades away
A few days a month you'll see the moon
But back it returns, it leaves so soon

The Lord has blessed this land, it's kissed
The Spirit will blow away the mist
Another rain will cause a flood
But when people are saved there'll be no mud

Nathan Combs