If you listen to much Bible teaching today, you will inevitably hear the message that if you believe God enough you will always get what you want.  Physical healing, financial success, and high social position are touted as things that can be experienced if one has enough “faith”.  Maybe that message is carried by more than just those slick-haired, silver-tongued devils on radio and television.  Maybe the same message is presented subtly in our multi-million dollar facilities, our slick worship service presentations, and our neat, tidy educational programs.  If that is the case, we need a reality check.

While Hebrews 11 details the lives and events of the most notable Old Testament saints, it concludes with an important caveat.  Stating that the accounts of great victories of faith are too numerous to recount in detail (v. 32-35a), the author also states that there were many who suffered terribly (v. 35b-38)…by faith!  This reality was becoming all too true during the time that the book of Hebrews was written.  The list of those who paid the ultimate price for their faith is long.  From the stoning of Stephen to the torture of Christians in the catacombs, many Christ followers have experienced everything but health, wealth, and prosperity in their faith.  Although this may be a little disconcerting for some, this truth is liberating for all in the end.

From this truth we learn that we don’t have to be a star to be hero.  There are many people who live a life of faith in Christ out front for all to see, but the overwhelming majority of faithful Christ followers live behind the curtain of the public stage.  We also learn that suffering is not always a punishment for sin.  Many people throughout history have been called upon to suffer, and even die, for the glory of God!  Additionally, we learn that success and suffering both are valuable only as much as they are associated with faith in God.

These truths have been huge in my life.  After recently discovering that I had been struggling with depression for a while, I learned that the important question in life is not always “why” we suffer, but “how” we suffer.  Trusting God to be good for His promises day by day, and trusting daily that He rewards the person diligently seeking Him protects us in the days of success and sustains us in times of suffering.  By faith, nothing has to be wasted in life including those times when you feel like nothing more than a miserable failure.

The question is, “Are you living by faith?”  Even when you aren’t experiencing great “profits” in life, are you doing what is right anyway?  Are you acting justly, loving mercy, and walking humbly with God even when it doesn’t feel so good?  What encouragement do you find in realizing that we can suffer productively in life “by faith”?  How would this truth change what we do as a church, if anything?

Some of you have been too quiet for too long!  Can’t wait to hear from you.

Love you all,

tim