Hebrews 11:32-40
I could go on and on, but I’ve run out of time. There are so many more—Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets. . . . Through acts of faith, they toppled kingdoms, made justice work, took the promises for themselves. They were protected from lions, fires, and sword thrusts, turned disadvantage to advantage, won battles, routed alien armies. Women received their loved ones back from the dead. There were those who, under torture, refused to give in and go free, preferring something better: resurrection. Others braved abuse and whips, and, yes, chains and dungeons. We have stories of those who were stoned, sawed in two, murdered in cold blood; stories of vagrants wandering the earth in animal skins, homeless, friendless, powerless—the world didn’t deserve them!—making their way as best they could on the cruel edges of the world.
Not one of these people, even though their lives of faith were exemplary, got their hands on what was promised. God had a better plan for us: that their faith and our faith would come together to make one completed whole, their lives of faith not complete apart from ours.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I’ve told you before about hearing people talk of someone who has a “direct line” to God. I’m willing to bet you know someone who believes that it makes a difference in their lives when certain people pray over them. There truly are people who think that God bestows favors on certain believers… and answers their prayers more swiftly or with a better outcome. I don’t believe this is the case… and I’ll take this scripture passage as proof!
As these verses illustrate, people endured all sorts of things to serve God… yet they often continued to suffer. Many were tortured, stoned, sawed in two, and murdered. Surely their answers and rewards did not come in this lifetime. And ours may not, either! The point is that God has something wonderful for each of us… we just don’t get to pick when, where, and how He will deliver it! He will not favor one servant over another… God will not answer one person’s prayers more readily than others’.
It may appear that some people seem to walk in more blessings and receive preferential treatment… but we don’t know the whole story. I would venture to guess that every person you think is being given partial treatment by God has untold struggles, worries, and concerns. He/she may just do a better job of walking in faith that God will handle these things than we do!
My point is that we are all precious to God. He has great plans in store for each of us… and He will bestow His gifts and blessings upon us with perfect precision and timing. Our job is to stay faithful… just like the saints and servants of long ago… to continue to honor, praise, and serve God even in our darkest hours. We all can equally share in God’s promises. At exactly the right time, these will be revealed to us… and it will be worth the wait!
Stay faithful… keep on “keepin’ on!” Know that God hears your every thought and prayer as well as anyone else’s. Serve Him with a glad heart - even when you are anything but glad. Know that He is preparing amazing things for your future. Trust God to give you all you need and more… and live like you really mean it!
©2012 Debbie Robus
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