“But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion on those in prison, and you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property, since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and an abiding one. Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised. For,
“Yet a little while,
and the coming one will come and will not delay;
but my righteous one shall live by faith,
and if he shrinks back,
my soul has no pleasure in him.”
But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” – Hebrews 10:32-39
What are you willing to tolerate for your faith?
In our passage for today, the writer of Hebrews is commending, warning, and encouraging the church all at the same time.
Well Done – The church is commended for enduring hardship and suffering.
Be Ware – The church is warned not to shrink back and give up their faith in the face of further hardship and pressure.
Have Confidence – The church is encouraged that Christ will return and they will endure in the faith and be preserved.
Pressure and Suffering Ahead
For a long time, Christians have enjoyed freedom and majority status in the U.S. Even people who weren’t particularly spiritual would join a church and speak about God because it was expected. Those days are gone.
Whether we will ever have days like that again in America is unknown; but if the current trend continues, we will face increased pressure to give up our faith or at least be quiet about it. We will probably also have to endure suffering.
We don’t like to hear it, but we should not hide from the truth.
Do Not Shrink Back
The message from Hebrews is becoming more and more relevant to our lives with each passing year. Already, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ are being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction and it is only increasing.
Do not give up.
Pray, stay in the Word, and continue to gather with each other for both your sake the sake of those around you. Our Lord is faithful. He has already won the victory and He will return. Our hope is not in the things of this world. By the power of Christ, we can endure. We are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls. Don’t shrink away, lean into Jesus.
If that time of suffering comes, remember Christ’s promises and join in Paul in saying,
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” Romans 8:18
and
“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:
‘For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:35-39
Heavenly Father,
The life You have given me through faith is greater than anything this world can offer and worth any suffering I may face. Be with me. Keep me in the faith. Make me ever bolder in that faith. When the pressure mounts to give up my faith, draw me even closer to You that I may endure.
Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
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