The World Was Not Worthy

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The World Was Not Worthy

The Bible is filled  with accounts  of God’s children who,  down through the ages,  refused to lose their integrity  to the evils  of this world.     We might wince  at the horrors they experienced  in order to remain in the truth,  but, truth be told,  they are now in glory forever and ever.     Was it worth it?     They all give a resounding,  “Yes!”

Hebrews 11  gives a short listing  of some of these faithful,  Old Testament,  children of God,  and then  in verses 35-40  there is a synopsis  of these heroes of faith,

Women received back their dead  by resurrection;  and others were tortured,  not accepting their release,  in order that they might obtain  a better resurrection;  and others experienced mockings  and scourgings,  yes,  also chains and imprisonment.

They were stoned,  they were sawn in two,  they were tempted,  they were put to death  with the sword;  they went about  in sheepskins,  in goatskins,  being destitute,  afflicted,  ill-treated  (men of whom the world was not worthy),  wandering in deserts  and mountains  and caves  and holes in the ground.   

And all these,  having gained approval  through their faith,  did not receive what was promised,  because God had provided something better for us,  so that apart from us  they should not be made perfect.

So many have remained true  to the faith,  in spite of horrible deaths.    Not one was willing  to sacrifice his conscience  for a little bit of relief.     They all preferred  to lose all they had,  including their lives,  so that  they would not lose  their integrity  before God.

God’s promises — God’s word of authority — was their guide and trust.     They  knew for sure  that God cannot lie.     We,  too,  need to do God the honor  of totally trusting Him  for all of our needs — for the sake  of the principle of truth.

After listing all their anguish of faith  and approval from God,  the writer of Hebrews says that they  “did not receive  what was promised,  because  God had provided something better  for us,  so that  apart from us  they should not be made perfect.”     What does he mean?

The heroes of faith listed  all lived  before Jesus came  to die for our sins.     These heroes were looking  for the Savior,  but,  all they had was a long list  of promises and prophecies  of what the Savior would be like.     They died  without getting to see the Savior.     They died  without the knowledge  of Jesus’ actual ministry,  His passion of suffering,  His crucifixion,  His resurrection,  and His ascension to heaven.

They were willing to stand  in the truth  and suffer  in remaining true  to the truth.     They are all certainly  in heaven now  and their salvation is complete  because of Christ’s coming.

We,  on the other hand,  have full knowledge  of how God kept  all of His promises  in Jesus Christ.     We get to see  the whole picture  of promises made  and kept.     Because we have a record  of all the promises kept,  surely we should be willing  to stand in the true faith,  along with all those patriarchs and prophets — all those who  remained faithful  before the coming of the Christ.

Let us not sacrifice our conscience  and lose our integrity  just to get the approval  of this sinful world.     We all walk by faith  and not by sight.     God deserves  to be trusted  because He has proven His trustworthiness  in Christ.     God has promised  to never leave us.     He will always be near — no matter what is happening,  we can depend on Him  to lead us  and strengthen us.

Being free  in the knowledge  of our Savior,  we joyfully say,  “Hallelujah!     Lord,  You do, indeed,  test us — but, You are also  surely holding our hand  all the way.     Blessed be Your love and faithfulness.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional to glorify the LORD of lords and God of gods

 

Pray for our country.

 

This is the day which the LORD has made;
Let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Psalm 118:24

 

The word of the LORD is tried;
He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.
Psalm 18:30

 

Sing for joy in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;
Praise is becoming  to the upright.
Psalm 33:1

How blessed are those  who dwell in Thy house!
They are ever praising Thee.
Psalm 84:4

 

Just as a father has compassion  on his children,
So the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him.
Psalm 103:13

 

Oh give thanks to the LORD,  for He is good;
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
Psalm 107:1

 

Glory in His holy name;
Let the heart of those who seek the LORD be glad.
Psalm 105:3

 

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that
I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:12

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