Image: "On The Lonely Way Back Home", 2013, Freeport, Me
Hebrews 11:13–16 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
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One of my favorite Kris Kristofferson songs is "The Pilgrim." As a description of the restless poet walking through life, always "out of place", despising chains and obligations but always possessing a hollow space in the middle of his soul that only permanence could fill, it is excellent. I never tire of hearing him sing:
He's a walkin' contradiction, partly truth and partly fiction
Takin' ev'ry wrong direction on his lonely way back home
A true poet is always seeking something beyond the mundane. His or her eyes never rest contentedly on any beautiful vision before them because they know that it is only passing. There is melancholy in every waking moment because, as the song says, he is "on his lonely way back home."
Though Christians, of all people, should not emulate such poets to any great degree, yet any person who possesses saving faith will have some overlap with them. Christians know that they are to not despise the good nor despair over the transient beauty that is in it. They know that every good thing comes from their good God above and that it is to be received with gladness. Yet, at the same time, they also know that every good thing is a signpost, a one-way sign at that, pointing toward the end of their journey. They are "going home" and there is a "hollow space" in their soul also, a restless yearning for the awaited promise to be fulfilled.
In these verses, we are given a fairly concise and elegant description of saving faith. We see that there is an "otherworldly" aspect to it. It consists of being "assured" of something not present... something "seen afar off" but yet is "embraced." Like the poets, they readily "confess" that they are "strangers and pilgrims on the earth." They earnestly desire "a better, ... heavenly country" where God has promised, and Jesus Himself guaranteed, that a "city" has been prepared for them.
Saving faith has this effect on a person, inevitably. It changes the way they see the universe and themselves in it. They, of all peoples, even beyond that of godless poets, can have their hearts soar when contemplating something beautiful in this life, and yet, in a seeming paradox, they yearn for that ultimate beauty for which the present vision is only a down-payment.
Saving faith means that a person "embraces" this life. The original word fundamentally means to "greet affectionately." "Embrace" here is that of a joyful hug extended to a beloved friend or relative after a long separation. The "next life" is very near and real in saving faith. It is not some abstract philosophical premise. It is inherent in the fabric of the life of faith itself. When it is truly "embraced" then death loses its terror. It was remarked of Christians in ancient Rome that: "They know how to die." This is because to a person with saving faith, the long-desired "home" has drawn near. They are apprehensive about the experience of death, of course, as is every person. But they are not apprehensive about being dead.
The old Gospel song proclaimed that one day "I'm gonna sit down beside my Jesus... and rest a little while." Home is where the journey ends... there's no other place a person longs to be... nothing is missing... contentment, at last, is not only possible but attained.
Saving faith is just these things but these things are never absent from it. This world must lose its hold on us before "saving faith" is fully present. All of the Old Testament saints mentioned in this chapter had it. All the NT saints had it in spades in an even more intense form. Our joy in this life awaits only that we accept this life as passing and thus discount the bad, embrace the good, and understand that this is all part of the "lonely way back home."
Hebrews 12: The Truth, Plainly Spoken
Image: "Stark Reality", 2013, Bar Harbor, Me
Hebrews 12:1–2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:3–5 For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls. 4 You have not yet resisted to bloodshed, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks to you as to sons: “My son, do not despise the chastening of the LORD, Nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him;
Hebrews 12:10–11 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness. 11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
Hebrews 12:28–29 Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire.
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If a modern advertising firm was tasked to "sell" the Biblical message I doubt they would package it using the teachings of this chapter. Madison Avenue knows its customers. They know the advertisements that "work", that gets America's attention and moves us to buy stuff, are empty promises. The Marlboro Man is pictured as a ruggedly virile man, astride his horse, enjoying the scenery as he puffs his cigarette. Madison Avenue would not picture him in a cancer ward after having one of his lungs removed. You get my point.
In this chapter, we see the stark reality of a Christian life lived in a fallen world. It is not pictured as a bed of ease, surrounded by rose arbors, with the gentle sounds of a classical quartet wafting gently in our ears. No, what we see is the metaphor of a strenuous foot race, conducted in front of a huge audience of previous runners, who are intensely watching the event. (vs. 1) We are the runners and it is no easy race. Don't think of it as a flat track as in a college meet. Think of it as a double marathon, run over the rough and hilly Scottish countryside. It is easy to twist an ankle on the many large, loose rocks. The hills are steep and the wind always seems to blow against you. This race requires the very last ounce of your energy reserves and there are many who simply do not make it.
But we are told what every good runner knows: that we must focus on the end goal. If we only see the immediate pain and hardship we will grow discouraged. Our resolve will only be strengthened if we remember why we are running and recognize that whatever we have to endure, the end goal is worth it. The author tells us that our end goal is indeed worth it: It is Jesus Himself, the "author and finisher of our faith" who is there, at the finish line, excitedly awaiting our arrival. He is our reward... and since He ran an even more difficult race than ours, we are His reward also.
The reason Madison Avenue would not advertise these truths is that Americans don't like the idea of "pain" and "chastizing." An athlete does not build up his endurance apart from pain. The old saying, "no pain no gain" is true in this regard. So, Americans want "fun" and they spend their money on things that promise more "fun". The Bible does not pander to this debilitating attitude. The Bible proclaims the truth, plainly spoken. Christianity is not always easy. In fact, if it is always easy it is probably not Christianity at all. (vs. 8) Christianity requires a developed discipline that culminates in endurance and God, prompted by His great love, coaches us through the training we need.
He "chastens those He loves". (vs. 6) God knows that life in a fallen world is a dangerous journey (to mix metaphors). Along the way, there will not only be obstacles to cross but enemies to withstand. God's people must be spiritually tough. The seeming paradox is that this "toughness" is manifested in meekness and humility. When we face difficulties, rather than raging against our circumstances, Christians are called to accept the "stark reality" that difficulties are inevitable and then face them in a manner that glorifies God through Jesus Christ. When we do this we find that it is to our "profit" (vs. 10) and it brings the blessed reward of being "partakers of His holiness." Our struggles and chastening are direct contributors to advancing in holiness. We are told that "afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness for those who have been trained by it."
That's what we have to remember, over and over again, as rising discouragement tempts us to just quit... to give in or to fall for Satan's whisper "what's the use?" We must remember those who did fall and the shame of their failures. (vs. 14-17) Let us renew our resolve, strengthen our knees, and remember the glorious prize for which we run: the kingdom which cannot be shaken and the glorious God Who is a consuming fire. (vs. 28-29)
Posted by Gadfly on March 31, 2021 at 10:32 AM in Church, Commentary, Culture, Movies, etc., Devotional Meditation, Discipleship, Religion, Sanctification | Permalink | Comments (0)
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