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TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH - SCOTTSBORO, AL

Aug 18, 2013    13thSunday After Pentecost    Hebrews 11:17-40; 12:1-3


"What are you looking at?"
 

Grace and Peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

The text for today’s meditation is Hebrews 11:17-40; 12:1-3

17 By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was in the act of offering up his only son, 18 of whom it was said, "Through Isaac shall your offspring be named." 19 He considered that God was able even to raise him from the dead, from which, figuratively speaking, he did receive him back. 20 By faith Isaac invoked future blessings on Jacob and Esau. 21 By faith Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, bowing in worship over the head of his staff. 22 By faith Joseph, at the end of his life, made mention of the exodus of the Israelites and gave directions concerning his bones. 23 By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. 24 By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 25 choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. 26 He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. 27 By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. 28 By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. 29 By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned. 30 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. 31 By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had given a friendly welcome to the spies. 32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-- 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated-- 38 of whom the world was not worthy-- wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. 39 And all these, though commended through their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40 since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect.

12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

I was looking at things hoped for and not seen. I was looking at the burned out lights hoping they were replaced. I was hoping I would have more light shining on my papers. Yet, the new lights are unseen. I have faith they will be put in; I know we have the bulbs; I know we have someone with the capabilities to put them in; and I know they agreed to do it someday. So, I was looking with faith in things hoped for and not seen.

"What are you looking at?" Let’s turn to the heroes of faith in our reading and see what they are looking at. What is it Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are looking at? What about Moses? What is he looking at? What is Rahab looking at? What about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, the prophets? What are they looking at? It’s simple really. The simple truth is they are looking at "things hoped for, things not seen." As we talked about last week; this is the very definition of the faith God gave them. He gave them faith so they can see the very things greater than what is in the world. They walked through torment, testing, wars, affliction, mistreatments, captivity, and torture. By faith they endured all of these. By faith they believed God was able to fulfill His promises. By faith they believed God was faithful to His promises.

We hear the words "by faith" over and over again. We hear it 11 times just in today’s text. Moses left Egypt by faith. He should have been afraid of the angry king but by faith the Lord gave them strength, led them out, and gave them the victory over captivity and the Egyptian King.

"What are you looking at?" What is it you are looking at in today’s reading? Some of you might be looking at the heroes of the faith. Others may be looking at great role models to follow in your lives. Yet others might be looking "inspiration" in this reading. All of these are right there in the reading but if that is what you are looking at you have missed the mark. These "heroes" we are reading about, these very same "heroes" that display great faith also showed their imperfection and lack of trust. They weren’t perfect, they showed their sin. The same Moses that led God’s people out of Egypt was a murderer and he doubted his usefulness as God’s servant. David, the Lord’s mighty king, was an adulterer. The list goes on. So often their eyes were on things other than "thing that are hoped for and things unseen." So many times their eyes were on satisfying their own desires, running from their own fears, and needing extra proof from God that he would do what He promised! These descriptions don’t sound much like heroes of the faith do they? They sound more like you and me than heroes of the faith don’t they? That just shows how much we have in common with them. When life is happening, when there is more month than money, or when your job is getting the best of you "things hoped for, things unseen" doesn’t seem like much of a reality does it? There are times when God doesn’t seem as "real" as you want Him to be. Sometimes you take things into your own hands. Sometimes you don’t take God at His word. Sometimes you get caught up living by sight and not by faith and love it.

So, if looking at the heroes of the faith as we read this passage misses the point; what is the point? What are we looking at? Well, it is extremely simple. It may sound like the typical Sunday school answer but it really is Jesus. We are looking at Jesus. Let’s look at the previous chapter. Hebrews 10:19-23 page 1007 in your pew bible; "Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, 21 and since we have a great priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful." He who promised is faithful! He has fulfilled His promise. He saw it to completion. He shed His blood! He died! He rose! He ascended! We have confidence to enter the holy places and to stand in the presence of God. We, by faith hold fast with full assurance knowing our sins are forgiven before God in heaven. We stand in this full assurance in the midst of life that happens around you both fair and foul. That is what the faith talk is all about; holding on to Jesus and his promise of forgiveness and eternal life. Hold on even tighter when life is tumbling around you. It is the point!

I need to point out that there is a difference between the "by faith" people in our reading and you. They, by faith, believed God’s promise but never received it. It still happened; just not in their lifetime. Kind of like me and the lights. The promise will be fulfilled to change the lights just not while I’m here. I will not see the fulfillment of the promise. Unlike the heroes of the faith, you have seen the fulfillment of the promise. The promise? Once again the answer is….. Jesus! Who is He? The founder and perfecter of your faith. I ask you…what is He looking at? You! Your salvation! Your life in Him. He is looking at you, the joy set before him. Chapter 12 verse 2who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. In the midst of His suffering and pain, He kept looking at you, the joy set before Him. What a victory! His and yours!

So, "what are you looking at?" Jesus. Verse 1 and 2; Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus. How does that change things? You can lay aside every weight. He took every sin that weighs you down on him to the cross. You can lay aside the sins that cling so closely to you. He took them to the cross. You can run this race through the midst of all things, free and forgiven, looking to Jesus. And by the way, you are not running alone. Look around you. Look around here. Look around at all times and all places. What do you see? It is a great cloud of witnesses looking by faith to the One who is seated at the right hand of God. You are not alone. What are you looking at? It is through faith that we are all looking at Jesus!

Amen

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