Hebrews 11:32-40-- The World Was Not Worthy of Them

Scripture: Hebrews 11:32-40

We want to trust in generalities. Will eating an apple a day generally keep the doctor away? Will a stitch generally, in time, save nine [more stitches from being required]? Is the worm generally eaten by the early bird?



In understanding faith and why we should have it, I think we often want to know: if a person has faith in God, will his or her life generally be easier, more successful, and/or more filled with blessing? Or, if we let the pendulum swing, will a person of faith generally face even more suffering and persecution than normal?

While it's not the main point of Hebrews 11, I think the chapter answers us with "neither". There is no generality to make between faith and material blessing or generic suffering. Sure, in certain times and cultures, believers (of various religions) have been intensely persecuted; but this is not a timeless truth inherent to faith.

What does the chapter say? 

"[Many heroes of Old Testament], who through faith... escaped the edge of the sword. ... Some [other faithful heroes of Old Testament times]... were killed by the sword."

Some, by faith, escaped the sword. Others, by faith, endured death by sword. It seems that the earthly outcome of a life is not what one's faith is primarily concerned with or working toward. To close, here are two other things that the rescued and martyred share in common. Think about what this means--

• "the world was not worthy of them"
• "none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect"