“Saying, Surly
blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so,
after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” - Hebrews 6:14 &
15
For whatever reason, endurance
races don’t seem to attract the attention of the public like dramatic competition;
at least not the American public. When you consider the athletic events
that top the ratings board (Super Bowl, March Madness, World Series); they are
not centered around endurance, but drama. The endurance races (Ironman,
Boston Marathon, Tour de France) are not always dramatic, not flashy, but they still
garner as much or more praise for athletic achievement for the will to overcome,
the strength to persevere; against the most difficult opponent of all, one’s
self. In the face of adversity both
internal and external those who would win are those who endure.
Abraham was a man of
great faith, as well as great endurance. The scripture says that after
he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. This promise being
that he will be great and blessed.
Consider, the promise was first given to Abraham when he was seventy-five
years old in the land of Haran. He died
at age one hundred and seventy-five, so by comparison he was still a younger man.
He was called by God to “go out, not knowing where he went.” This is an amazing thing. Like the disciples who left all and followed
Jesus. Abraham left everything he knew
and everything that made him comfortable. He forsook it and followed God to a
land that God would show him. This is the essence of faith. It is trusting and acting in the unseen. God blessed him for his faith and gave him
the promise that he would be a father of many nations and through Isaac shall
his seed be, as well as God’s covenant promise.
Abraham then waited for twenty-five years before this promise child would
come. He endured in faith, for how can a
man with no son be a mighty nation? Granted his faith wavered a bit, but
in time the faith was lost in sight and the promise child born to him. Then God tested that same faith by asking him
to offer up Isaac on the alter. The
scripture says that he staggered not but was strong in faith. Abraham endured, he believed God, and through
Isaac came Jacob, through Jacob came Judah, and through Judah came Jesus.
The culmination of the seed of faith was abounded to many who will be brought
into this mighty nation through faith.
Like Abraham, we must not only be children of faith but children of patience
and endurance. Patiently enduring the
troubles and trials that come to us. It
is not flashy, it will not always garner praise and attract attention, but in patience
possess ye your souls. In this endurance race of life, we will one
day reach a finish line and obtain the redemption of the purchase possession:
a home in heaven.
Abraham understood
this and so must we. There is a city we are seeking that is not of this
world. You cannot find it on Google Earth. No GPS will take you there. It is a spiritual kingdom reigning in our
hearts that takes us to a spiritual kingdom.
This kingdom is veil by the flesh, but revealed by the Spirit, and owe will
one day cross over and be with Jesus. We
will be blessed with faithful Abraham.
God is not looking for children of competition, or dramatic flair, he
calls those who will step out in faith and patiently endure in faith. The
testimony of faith can also be a testimony of endurance.
