🩻 But Others 🫵

 Hebrews 11:33 (KJV) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions,

Hebrews 11:34 (KJV)  Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

Hebrews 11:355 (KJV) Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

Boy that’s wonderful, that’s the kind of stories we love to hear. Winners, overcomers in hopeless situations, escaping rather than giving up, turning weakness into strength, fighting when many would have ran for their lives. Oh the success they are the best. But wait, the next verse tells of a story we don’t like to hear nor live. 

Hebrews 11:36 (KJV) And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:  Others? Yes others the unnamed, the ones we don’t want to be, the ones we try so hard not to be. We like recognition, we like being employee of the month, salesman of the year or of the month or of the day. We run races to win and we like being recognized.

Hebrews 11:37 (KJV) They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; Wait a minute didn’t all these have faith in God? Sure they did, we are told they did. Then why all the hardships? I can’t explain why we as God’s people go through hardships. But if you take the time to read this wonderful book we call the Bible you will find  that many had hardships. Some because of what they did knowing better and others just let the temptations of this life draw them in deeper and deeper. 

You and I may fit better with this crowd. Maybe we are not in prison, nobody is about to stone us or saw us 

in half but none the less we have been forgiven, we have put our trust in God. But the doctor said it doesn’t look good and from what he knows he gives you no more than 6 months. What! I'm only 43 and my daughter will be graduating in just 8 months. Read this verse.

Hebrews 11:39 (KJV) And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:  These Old Testament saints received not; they greatly desired to see their Savior in the flesh; they saw Him by faith; they believed in Him, and rejoiced in the expectation of his coming. But it never happened. Wait, wait, we too haven’t seen Jesus yet. But we have read about His birth and we celebrate it every December 25.  We have read of His life on this earth. We have read of His promise, be not troubled I go to prepare a place for you, I will come again. You know what I have learned? It matters not what age, there will always be something we want to see, a place we want to go. It does not  matter whether we are 43 or 92 we have plans! I think he was 92 and seemed to be in great health. His name was Ralph Ayers. He bought him a free standing sitting swing and had his grand boys place it close to the road. He would wave as cars passed by and we all would wave back. Some of us would even stop and sit with him on his swing. While we talked or better yet while he talked. I love to stop and hear him talk of the past; he had some great tales to tell. One day he was sitting there not sure if he felt bad or just going in to eat lunch. He drove his 4-wheeler into his garage, closed the door and the next morning when his grandson went by to check on him he was dead right there by his 4-wheeler. I’m sure he had plans. The promise Jesus left were words of encouragement. I am going to prepare a place for you, don’t be troubled. These all died not seeing or knowing what we know. They, like you and I, were looking into the future by faith. The Apostle Paul said “eye hath not seen, ear hath not heard; here read it for yourself.

1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV) But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. We hang on here because this is all we know. God is saying don’t get too comfortable because you are not staying here. I have prepared a much better place for you and death is coming, please understand I love you so please trust Me. A prepared place for prepared people. Hebrews 11:40 (KJV) God having provided some better thing for us,