Faith to suffer

Hebrews 11:35-40 NKJV

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. [36] Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. [37] They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented- [38] of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth. [39] And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise, [40] God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect ahead of us.

The whole of Hebrews 11 is dedicated to the defining of faith (stating that it's impossible to please God without it) and then listing some of the great known heroes of faith by name.

It's easy to gloss over the end of the chapter where it lists anonymous heroes whose faith enabled them to suffer and die ignominiously.

Perhaps it takes greater faith to not be delivered than to have some amazing miracle happen.

Think of John the Baptist being beheaded at the whim of a vengeful woman compared with the resurrection of Lazarus after being dead 4 days!

Today there are many devoted Christian believers who are suffering intensely for their faith being imprisoned, tortured and horribly slaughtered.

We forget the fact that this earthly existence is just the prelude to eternity.

The great faith issue determines where we will spend that eternal existence.

It is vital that we don't dismiss the gravity of that decision - for it leads to life or damnation forever and ever.

It's a little gem of truth in the last verse above which explains that those past heroes will not receive the promise of a new immortal body ahead of us who are now living.

Hebrews 11:40 AMPC

Because God had us in mind and had something better and greater in view for us, so that they [these heroes and heroines of faith] should not come to perfection apart from us [before we could join them].

1 Corinthians 15:51-52 AMPC

Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God). We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed (transformed) [52] In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed).

Whether it's faith to live victoriously or to die a martyr - it's faith that pleases God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit.

We all are heirs of that promise who dare to believe in Jesus.