Fig Tree 3

Hebrews 11:39-40

Going through my mother’s belongings lately got my sister and I remembering all the years of our family together and all the work and fun and activities that our parents were involved in. They had good lives together. We had good lives as children and young adults. And all that has been done has led to the good lives we have now.

They worked and saved to provide a good home for themselves and their children. Bu their work and their efforts also provided for their grandchildren, even those that they may never have seen.

The same is true of our faith in God. We can’t always see what is coming. We must live our lives in faith and confidence, trusting to the ultimate goodness that waits for us all.

The author of Hebrews goes through a lengthy account of faithful believers in Chapter 11. He starts with the statement that “faith is being sure of what we hope for.” After talking about so many faithful people, what comment is offered? What are we waiting for?

At first the comment that these faithful believers had not received what had been promised can be discouraging. How can we be faithful if God is not going to fulfill His promises?

But the statement is about the big picture of God’s kingdom. Those who were faithful were indeed blessed by God. They did receive God’s promises. But none of us have reached that ultimate last day, that day when God’s kingdom will come to earth.

We are called to have faith. We are called to live a life of confidence in the unseen, the unseen powers of God, the unseen fulfillment of God’s promises to all of us. Christ’s return may be far beyond the reach of our lives, yet we must press forward in confident faith.

Our journey through Lent is a journey toward perfection, a journey of better and stronger faith. As we draw near to Easter let us recall that we are drawing nearer to that “something better” talked about in Hebrews.

DAILY CHALLENGE: What can give you the strength to continue in faith in God’s kingdom?