When are things ever going to get better? In the face of our worldwide pandemic, I suppose that thought isn’t far from any of our minds. For ¾ of a year, we’ve had to wear masks and stay apart from our loved ones, We’re all ready for this mess to be over so we can enjoy Christmas with our families. But it’s not over yet, no matter how badly we want it to be. And so we continue to wait. We continue to endure.

And you know, that’s not a bad description of the Christian life in general. As we learn from Hebrews chapter 11, “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (v. 1). And you know, many of the great heroes of the faith had to do a whole lot more waiting than we’re having to do right now. Noah (v. 7) had to stay cooped up in what amounted to a floating barn for over a year, shoveling who knows how much manure over the side. Abraham and Sarah had to wait for 25 years for Isaac to be born, and they never did get to see all the numerous descendants God had promised to him (vv. 11-12).

Moreover, faith often involves giving up the things we can see in order to receive the blessings God has promised to us. Abraham left his country and his father’s house to wander in a land that his descendants would possess hundreds of years later (11:8-9). Moses gave up the opportunity to live in Pharaoh’s palace, choosing instead to share his people’s suffering so he might eventually lead them out of slavery (vv. 24-26). Instead of trusting in the mighty walls of Jericho to keep her safe, Rahab threw her lot in with the Hebrew spies (11:30-31).

Yes, sometimes those who trust in God receive great blessings in this life, and some of these are listed in 11:33-35. But sometimes, remaining faithful to Christ means sharing in the kinds of sufferings He endured, such as those listed in 11:35-38.

So, no matter how long we have to wait, and no matter what we have to endure, let’s not only remember all the faithful saints who went before us, but also the Lord Jesus. For He was willing to give up everything in this world so that we might share the next one with Him (12:2). Let’s pray that He would give us the faith and the endurance to follow Him.

Hebrews 11:32-12:3 (NASB)

32 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets,
33 who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions,
34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.
35 Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, in order that they might obtain a better resurrection;
36 and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment.
37 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
38 (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground.
39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,
40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they should not be made perfect.
Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance, and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.