FAITH AT THE CROSSROADS OF LIFE
FAITH AT THE CROSSROADS OF LIFEHebrews 11:20-29 Hebrews 11:20-40
Change is as natural to human experience as breathing. Whatever your present circumstances, this much is certain: they will change. Young people get old; the healthy become ill; children grow up and grown-ups return to childishness; the sad become happy and the happy sad. Yes, change is inevitable.
"Change and decay in all around I see." In the light of that fact, how should a Christian respond to the turning points of life?Hebrews 11:20-29reveals three different kinds of “turning point”experiences, each of which requires a response of faith.
Facing Death in Faith {Hebrews 11:20-22}
Death, of course, is the ultimate change. Each day that passes is one day nearer the end of life. As the natural senses fail, however, faith enables the believer to face the “last enemy”with hopeful vision, joyful worship, and victorious confidence.
That’s how Isaac approached the end of his life: “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come”.{Hebrews 11:20} His faith was visionary. Looking beyond the present dissolution of natural life, Isaac focused on the future.
Further, Jacob died triumphantly in faith: “By faith Jacob, when he was a dying...worshiped, leaning upon the top of his staff.” {Hebrews 11:21} Jacob did not face his final hours in terror or despair. Instead, he bowed himself upon his staff and offered worship to God. This dying man had faith in the Living God.
Like his father and grandfather, Joseph glorified God by a faithful testimony in death: “By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel from Egypt; and gave commandment concerning his bones”.{Hebrews 11:22} He said, “One day God will carry you up from Egypt and when He does, I want to go with you. Promise me, then, that you’ll take my bones.” His confidence in the ultimate victory no doubt encouraged his brethren more than once in the years ahead. We might call these three examples “Visionary Faith.” This kind of faith says, “His love in times past forbids me to think He’ll leave me at last in trouble to sink;
Each sweet Ebenezer I have in review, Confirms His good pleasure to help me right through.”
Facing Danger in Faith {Hebrews 11:23;Hebrews 11:27-29} The “fear of the unknown”is an intimidating factor as we face the changes of the future. Moses’ parents must have struggled with this fear as they refused to comply with Pharoah’s unjust law. Because they trusted God and feared Him above man, they were not intimidated by the king’s decree.
Moses himself also overcame his fear of man by faith. {Hebrews 11:27} The eye of faith, in other words, enables a person to "see Him who is invisible." In the light of His reality, danger and threats sink into irrelevance. We might call this "Courageous Faith."
Facing Decisions in Faith {Hebrews 11:24-26}
Crucial choices are, by definition, turning points and seasons of change in life. Moses faced such a choice when he reached maturity. {Hebrews 11:24} In one sense, it was a choice between being rich and being poor, between being "somebody" and being "nobody." In another sense, however, it was a choice between being authentic and being synthetic, between being true to his convictions and living a lie. By faith, he chose to be a “nobody”with God’s people, even at the cost of personal loss, because he wanted to be true to his convictions. By faith, he knew that any momentary reproach he would suffer would soon be repayed by God. {Hebrews 11:26} b And, by faith, he knew that any temporary pleasure he might enjoy in sin would bring long-term pain and regret. We might call this “Decisive Faith.”
Like these heroic saints of yesteryear, the Hebrews, standing at the crossroads of change and transition, had a signpost in God’s word to direct their steps. Would they follow it by faith?