Rewrite Our Story

I just finished a study on Hebrews 11 which is often referred to as the the Hall of Faith. Several bible characters are mentioned and all were commended for their faith. Although they were commended for their faith in the New Testament, the stories of their weaknesses and at times failures are listed in the Old Testament.

So many of the issues they dealt with we also struggle with. The truth of their human efforts is shown in what could be called the Hall of Shame.

By recklessness Noah got drunk and his nakedness was exposed to his son Ham (Genesis 9:20-27).
By fear Abraham lied about his relationship with Sarah, calling her his sister instead of his wife (Genesis 12:10-20). By fear he did it again (Genesis 20:1-18).
By anxiousness Sarah offered her servant Hagar to Abraham so that he might have an heir (Genesis 16:1-16).
By favouritism Isaac loved his son Esau more that his son Jacob and this caused all kinds of problems with his family (Genesis 25:28).
By deceit Jacob stole his brothers blessing by tricking his blind father Isaac (Genesis 27:1-46).
By rage Moses murdered an Egyptian taskmaster, hiding the body in the sand and fleeing to the wilderness (Exodus 2:11-22).
By anger Moses struck the rock to bring forth water instead of speaking to the rock as the Lord had commanded (Numbers 20:10-13).
And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of the sins of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David, and the prophets – who through faithlessness erected an idol for Israel to worship (Judges 8:22-27), who refused to fight for the Lord (Judges 4:8-9), who made a rash vow (Judges 11:29-40), who was a womanizer (Judges 16:1-22) who took another man’s wife and then murdered the man (2 Samuel 11:1-27), and who out of fear ran from his responsibilities (1 Kings 19:1-18). All of these were condemned because of their sins.

Does that sound like people with faith? Before we pass judgement we need to ask ourselves if we can relate to any of them and their circumstances.

So what makes the difference in their stories and ours? The answer is Jesus. His death on the cross changed everything. Their “Old” testament story was changed by their belief in Christ and that faith rewrote their “New Testament” story. “But PRAISE GOD, the story of the salvation is so very different. Rather than being condemned for their sins, those who put their trust in God were commended for their faith.”

When we place our faith in Christ our stories are rewritten and we are seen in the eyes of God as righteous. Hebrews 11 describes those same people in a new way in view of the cross. They were ALL commended for their faith.

The word translated as ‘commended’ here is ‘martureo’ and it has the thought of ‘a good honest report or witness , ‘to be well reported of’, Other Bible versions say that they ‘gained approval through their faith’ (NASB), ‘obtained a good testimony through faith’ (NKJV), ‘won divine approval by [means of] their faith’ (AMP), It is good to remember that they received divine approval by their faith. It doesn’t say they were commended by their holiness, their service or even love for others.

Often we try to be right with God in our own efforts, but what the scripture says about being put right with God through faith is this: 

“God’s message is near you, on your lips and in your heart”—that is, the message of faith that we preach.  If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved.  For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved.  The scripture says, “Whoever believes in him will not be disappointed.”  This includes everyone, because there is no difference between Jews and Gentiles; God is the same Lord of all and richly blesses all who call to him.  As the scripture says, “Everyone who calls out to the Lord for help will be saved.” (Romans 10:8-13)

What a gift we have knowing that our stories can be rewritten and receive Divine Approval. Thank you Lord for providing a way for our old lives to be made new and for giving us new life in You.

My Prayer

Father, thank you for the stories in Your word that show us that no matter where we are in our lives, the struggles we face or the failures we have experienced, we have hope in You. You see us through the eyes of redemption where our old is made new. Thank you for the cross and for making a way for us to experience freedom from sin and hope for all that You have prepared for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Where does my help come from?

2 Corinthians 5:17

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!