faith

Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen;

      it gives us assurance about things we cannot see

Hebrews 11:1

Thus starts the chapter in Hebrews euphemistically called "the faith chapter"

For 32 succeeding verses, the author of Hebrews recounts one after another of the actions of various "heroes of faith".

And then, he says this...


38 By faith these people overthrew kingdoms,

     ruled with justice,

     and received what God had promised them.

They shut the mouths of lions,

     34 quenched the flames of fire,

     and escaped death by the edge of the sword.

Their weakness was turned to strength.

They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight.

35 Women received their loved ones back again from death.


But others were tortured,

     refusing to turn from God in order to be set free.

     They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection.

36 Some were jeered at,

      and their backs were cut open with whips.

Others were chained in prisons.

37 Some died by stoning,

      some were sawed in half,

      and others were killed with the sword.

Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats,

     destitute and oppressed and mistreated.

38 They were too good for this world,

      wandering over deserts and mountains,

      hiding in caves and holes in the ground.

What I'm about to say is not original - but for the life of me I can't remember who it was that said it - but here's my thought...

The people mentioned in the first 32 verses with their giant acts of faith & stupendous results were the exception.

The mention mentioned in the last 4 verses are the rule.


When our lives have come & gone, few of us will be the type of people who would be mentioned in the first 32 verses - iow, considered "heroes of the faith"

Most of us would be considered as part of the overwhelmingly larger group mentioned in the last 4 verses.

We live our lives as best we can, exercising our faith in the mundane & unglamorous ways & areas of our lives.

We simply remain faithful.

Sometimes our lives glitter briefly, but most of the time we simply live our lives believing in God & all He promises & sustains.

We are still "heroes of faith" because we believe & simply live our lives faithful to God, no matter what happens.