From Hebrews 11& 12: 29 By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace. 32 And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets— 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— 38 of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39 Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40since God had provided something better so that they would not, apart from us, be made perfect. 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
In 2005, Nellie and I took our first trip to Europe. It was a great trip and an inspiring one. In London, we secretly enjoyed some tours where the English bragged on this and that; we smiled and whispered, "Yeah, but we won the war!" Later, in Spain, at the Alhambra, the tour was about the Spanish beating the Moors and gaining back control of Spain, and again we whispered, "Yeah, that was us!" And so it went. The writer of Hebrews is sharing a similar account of victories won in the midst of suffering. He shares a list of things that humanly seem impossible, but God made a way. How else can you explain a sea opened so that people could cross? How can you explain that when the enemy of God tried the same they drowned? How do you explain that a seven day parade results in walls of a city fall, or that a woman of questionable reputation did not die alongside disobedient people? How did lions have their mouths closed? Kingdoms conquered? Justice received? Fires quenched without burning? Death by sword avoided? Weakness overcome by strength? Enemies fleeing? The dead brought back to life? Suffering here and glory there?
Ours is a rich heritage that continues to live. Chapter 12 shares a powerful and favorite verse of many, that says, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us," and verse two of the same chapter, "looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith." In other words, if you believe in this faith history and have faith in Jesus, how can you even consider giving up or admitting defeat in whatever challenge you are facing? Is your problem greater than God? Is you challenge ultimately going to defeat God? NO! As Paul says later on in Romans 8, "In all these things we are MORE than conquerors..." Stay in the race, strive to win. It's a message that should be lived and shared with others; starting in your home, your church, your work place, the place where you play. Stay in the race; seek to win with Jesus' help.
PRAYER: Give me that faith that perseveres. Grant me the victory in whatever I am facing, in the precious and powerful name of Jesus I pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
