All Saints Day – We feebly struggle; they in glory shine

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Faith Is A Foundation

By faith, not because of faith. During my Vicar year I was a key part of the youth group—or at least I thought I was. You see, it was part of my role to watch over the little children as we went on youth group trips. And in the deep cold winter we took a youth group outing to a lake. Now, you have to remember that I grew up in MT where there is little water and very few lakes. So we all went out on the ice. And when I heard this massive rippling sound across the lake, I got scared. I didn’t know if that ice would support me. And in fact, when the little tiny kids got close to me, I shooed them away, not wanting them to be sucked down into the lake if I fell. I was really scared. But then a huge Ford F350 truck drove by a couple of feet away from me. The I realized that, regardless of how I felt about the ice, that ice would support me. By faith, not because of faith. Faith is not a good work that I perform either with my heart or my hands. Instead, it is a miracle performed by God, through his word. I don’t support my faith. Instead, my faith supports me. This morning we pick up the last half of Hebrew 11. And in that chapter we see that, by grace, the believers of old had a foundation that supported them. In Hebrews 11, we read: “³² And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, ³³ who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.” (Heb. 11:32–34 NIV11-GKE)

The pastor to the Hebrews has begun to show them what it looks like to be sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. And in these verses, notice how he illustrates this. In this list we find people who, by faith, made progress in this earthly life. These words take us to the time of the Judges and David. Even though they were outmatched and outnumbered they trusted God. And he gave them massive victories over their enemies. These words take us to the time of Daniel. He refused to bow down to foreign gods. And God shut the mouths of lions. What amazing progress these people had in this life by faith in Jesus. But notice where the pastor to the Hebrews goes next: “Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection.” (Heb. 11:35 NIV11-GKE)

These words have a “you think that’s impressive, just wait’” feel to them. By faith, these OT believers made progress in this world and in this life. There were even women who received their children back from the dead. But what’s better than that? A better resurrection is better than that. For what good is it to be raised back from the dead on this sinful, failing world? A better solution and resolution is the resurrection to eternal life on the last day. And all of them were looking forward to that resurrection.

And that brings us to us today. One of the temptations we can fail and fall to is to be overly impressed with progress here on this earth. We can be impressed with our own progress: Our awards, our diplomas, our certificates, our possessions, our property, our family. But notice the huge point that these words bring to our attention: If Jesus were to come tonight on Judgment Day, we would have so much better. We would have holy bodies, without sin and stain, without worthlessness and weakness. Even if we had our loved ones back from the dead here on this earth, how would that compare to the resurrection to eternal life?

it’s easy—ever so easy to be impressed by earthly progress. But Jesus sees ours sins. And in response, he first pays for our sin. I think of Jesus on Palm Sunday. Jesus and his disciples are walking up to Jerusalem. And the disciples are amazed at the massive stones that formed the foundation of that temple. But Jesus is in wonder at a different foundation. He is in awe of the foundation of faith that connects them to the resurrection to eternal life. Jesus is awed for the glories of heaven in our place, covering up and paying for the times that earthly progress was more important that the promise of an eternal resurrection. Then, after he pays for our sin, he promises a better resurrection—one that can never perish, spoil or faith. And the foundation for all of this is faith. Faith is the foundation for a better resurrection. But there’s more: “³⁶ Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. ³⁷ They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— ³⁸ the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.” (Heb. 11:36–38 NIV11-GKE)

Faith has a foundation for a better resurrection. But these words take us in a different direction. If, by faith, there were people who made progress in this life, even having their kids resurrected back to life here in this world, then, by faith, there were those who seemingly made no progress here. These words take us to the Old Testament prophets. They take us to Elijah who despaired that he even though he was faithful, he had nothing to show for it. We hear stories from Old Testament times that Jeremiah was stoned to death in Egypt and Isaiah was sawn in two.¹ By faith they made seemingly no progress here in this life.

And again, we have the very specific temptation that, instead of rejoicing in earthly progress, we grieve over our loss. Whether it’s a child who grieves over the toy that falls apart, or it’s the elderly person who gets angry that the legacy he has built is already falling apart even while he lives. In either case, we see our failings in that we do not stop and recognize the achievements that God has already given to us by his grace. And we see our failings when we fail to remember that what is to come is far better than what is here now.

And to this, notice the reaction God has to us. The pastor to the Hebrews puts it this way: “³⁹ These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, ⁴⁰ since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.” (Heb. 11:39–40 NIV11-GKE)

There’s something better waiting for us. By faith we have a better resurrection. But here, in these words, we see that we have a better reunion. What is it that God has planned and provided for us? They don’t arrive at their goal without us.² It reminds me of when our family would make homemade pizza with smoked deer sausage on it. It would come out of the oven steaming hot. And I’d get a fork out, look around, and when I was sure that no one was around, I’d reach out to stick my fork into that slice of sausage, covered with cheese. And then my mom would say, “No Stevie, you wait for the rest of us.” What an amazing thought to ponder on this All Saints Day. Those who believed in Jesus have gone into heaven before us. But they haven’t reached their goal without us. They still have to wait for us. They don’t have their perfect, glorious bodies. They have to wait for us, so that together with them, we would be raised to life together.

How these words fill us with hope and strength now. For, with these words in mind, instead of putting our power and pride in earthly progress, we look forward to a better resurrection. And with these words in mind, instead of despairing over the lack of progress here, we look forward to a better reunion. Let us all run our race with perseverance till we reach that day. Amen.

¹ Gareth Lee Cockerill, Hebrews, New International Commentary on the New Testament. Accordance electronic ed. (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans, 2012), 593.

² “ⲓ̈ⲛⲁⲙⲏⲭⲱⲣⲉⲓⲥⲏⲙⲱⲛⲧⲉⲗⲉⲓⲱⲑⲱⲥⲓ̅” (Heb. 11:40 GNT-ALEX)