The Epitaph of Your Faith

Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. 2 For by it the elders obtained a good report.

I have always been enamored by the summation of the faith of the elders in faith's hall of fame chapter.

"By faith..." is followed by the exploits of godly men and women of Scripture who now compass us as a cloud of witnesses. They cheer us on as we run the race that is set before us.

We read about how they, by faith, lived and died, saw great miracles occur, endured tremendous hardships, obeyed God, pleased God, listened to His voice and acted accordingly. By faith they built, sojourned, led, received, sought, offered, blessed, chose, refused, respected, believed, subdued, worked, escaped, waxed valiant, persevered and suffered.

Generally, only one little sentence or clause summarized what the spiritual giants accomplished by faith. We can call this an epitaph. It boils the essence of a life down to something that can fit on a grave marker. It cuts out all the fat and leaves the lean.

Feel free then, to consider what an eternal record might say of your life, lived by faith.

Finish the following: By faith (your name here) (your exploits here).

King of Righteousness

Heb 7:1 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him; 2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; 3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually. 4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

What a mysterious and interesting character we have in Melchisedec. We first read his account in Gen. 14:18, and then in Psalm 110:4. The Lord purposely leaves us somewhat in the dark concerning this great king and priest.

Some say he is a Christophanes, an appearance of Christ in the Old Testament. This is a tenable argument when you consider the following:

He is known as the King of righteousness, "King" capitalized in the text. The rabbis expounded this title to "matsdie eth Yoshebaiv," “The Justifier of those who dwell in him;”

He is also known as King of Salem, both words capitalized. As the King of Salem, he is called by the Hebrews writer, the King of peace.

Moreover, this priest and king is said to be without father and without mother, without beginning of days, nor end of life. No mortal can claim this lack of pedigree. The pre-incarnate Christ can claim each description.

In appearance, he was made like unto the Son of God. We recall the heavenly guest walking in the fiery furnace with Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, how that the king looked therein and said he saw a fourth man in the fire who appeared to be the Son of God.

Additionally, Melchisedec abides as a priest continually. Strange wording concerning any mortal, unless you consider the words of Heb. 6:20 ...Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

It is interesting that Jesus said of himself in John 8:56 that Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw it, and was glad.

However, it would seem a bit strange that Christ Himself be used as a type of Himself.

There are those who conclude that Melchesidec was merely "a Canaanite king, who reigned in Salem, and kept up religion and the worship of the true God; that he was raised to be a type of Christ, and was honoured by Abraham as such." -- Mt Henry

So much more can be said concerning this great king and priest, how he so ably typifies our great King and High Priest Who is eternal. He is Righteousness and Peace to Whom we pay our tithes. He blesses us so and makes intercession for us at the right hand of the Father.

Saved Again?

Heb 6:4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.

A great debate rages over eternal security. Baptists are accused of believing and teaching that "damnable doctrine of eternal security." But is it a damnable doctrine or a blessed truth of the Word of God?

It is overwhelmingly obvious from many passages and the teachings of Jesus and Paul that one who becomes a child of God can never be lost!

However, there are some difficult passages which, on the surface, may seem to indicate that it is possible to lose one's salvation. Scripture must be compared with Scripture. We cannot pull a verse or two out of context to support a false doctrine.

Only when all the pieces of a puzzle are put in place can a beautiful picture materialize. Let’s find out where this piece of the puzzle fits.

Hebrews 6:4-6 is one of those puzzling puzzle pieces that gives fits to many.

We question, are these people saved? They had been enlightened, had tasted of the heavenly gift, were made partakers of the Holy Ghost and had tasted the good Word of God and the powers of the world to come.

Some would argue that these folks are the ones who knock on heaven's door but never quite enter in. They teach that they actually come to the very cusp of salvation and then turn and walk away.

I can't see it that way. If one is ever made a partaker of the Holy Ghost, that means they have actually participated in and with Him. This IS a saved person. In my mind, there is no other way of viewing that statement.

The writer tells us that there is an impossibility in play here, and that is what we have to focus on, what is impossible?

If this passage refers to saved people, which I am convinced, it does, then it is impossible for them to fall away or lose their salvation and subsequently get saved again, or be renewed by repentance.

For that impossibility to happen, Christ would once again have to go to the cross, and that isn't happening. God sent His only begotten Son once to die for our sins. That substitutionary work of Jesus on Calvary was so complete that once sins are forgiven, His work was done. He ascended to the Father, and is set down on His right hand, signifying that salvation's work is forever finished. There is no more to do or can be done.

In a nutshell, Jesus died and rose again. All those who put their faith and trust in what He did for them are saved and eternally secure. If it were possible for them to be lost again, there would be no way they could ever get saved again, Christ would have to die once more.

Hence, this passage, that is so difficult for many, is a tremendous blessing in that it proves once again, that believers are eternally secure in Christ.

PS, my Facebook friend, Burl Faulk, disagrees with me on this passage. I'd like to share his thoughts on it:
I agree with the end conclusion. I do not however agree with the way he reached it. One mistake that so many people make concerning the Bible is that they don't realize that it is mostly a compilation of letters written to a particular person or group of people. We need therefore to keep the situation that that person or group was in at the time of the writing in mind, because the writer was addressing them in that situation and helping them to understand GOD's will as they faced those problems. The book of Hebrews was written to the Jewish people that had been raised under the law and were then faced with the news that JESUS is the Messiah. Once they realize that fact, having been led to that truth by the HOLY SPIRIT, if they then turn back to the law, GOD will no longer accept their sacrifices under the law. One of the key words in that passage is the word "tasted". You can taste without consuming. Read the passage with these things in mind and see if it doesn't make sense.

And...I do not believe these people were saved. They did indeed partake of the HOLY GHOST, but we all must do that before we are saved, because HE is the one that leads us to JESUS. Without HIS working in our hearts we would have no desire to come to CHRIST. Second, as I mentioned above, they have tasted, not indulged, of the sweet truth of salvation without the rigors of the law. Thirdly if you keep in mind the fact of their Jewish law upbringing and that they were being faced/confronted with the fact that JESUS is MESSIAH for the first time (that they understood it) then the rest of the book of Hebrews is very clear indeed.

Thanks Burl (and Dave)

Milk and Diaper Believers

Heb 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat. 13 For every one that useth milk is unskilful in the word of righteousness: for he is a babe. 14 But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

We love our kids and relish every stage of their growth. Well, some stages anyway. Just like the use of a washing machine in which there are several stages the laundry has to go through, so our kids face many changes and growing pains.

There are those stages, especially for the little ones, in which we wish they could stay. They can be so cute that we wish they'd never grow up. But really, it would be pretty unnatural for that to happen.

The same is so with Christians. They have that initial joy in abundance as a new believer, then a real zealousy, but without knowledge. They can be like a bull in a china closet as they tell others of their need for Christ. Then they could charge hell with a squirt gun, giving people what for about sin and righteousness. Some grow leaps and bounds as they devour all things Christian. Ah, we wish they could just stay that way. But we could never use them in a deacon's office or as a Sunday school teacher yet, they need more tact and maturity.

The shame is, sometimes crusty old do-nothing, feel-nothing Christians model a Laodicean lifestyle to them which stunts their growth. And such is the growth process for many new believers.

But something happens to a vast majority of Christians somewhere along in their growing years. They quit maturing and begin to reverting to earlier stages.

It comes to a point in our Christian walk, where, when we ought to be teaching and serving in greater capacities, we are hamstrung by immaturity.

This is not natural! Every Christian ought to experience growth in his or her spiritual life, pressing on the upward way. They need to quit drinking the pablum of the Word, settling once and for all what they believe about the basic tenets of the faith, and progressing to the meat of the things of God.

Where many ought to have their teaching degree from the University of Ministry, they are toddling around in Bible preschool donning dirty diapers.

Isn't it time to grow up, leave those early stages long behind us, and move on to ministry? Instead, we desire others continue to warm up our milk bottles.

Get a goal to move on to the next stage of your walk with the Lord, leaving the kid stuff behind. You need to be a minister, not a ministry.

Wandering in the Wilderness, They Fell Short

Heb 4:1 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. 2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it. 3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.

These verses trouble me as a pastor. As I read them, my mind starts immediately to picture many who came short of the rest that God gives, not only on the other shore, but right here and now.

Many are the souls who wander this earth, saved, but nowhere near secure in their walk, because their faith is lacking severely.

They will stroll through this life without power because the arm of their flesh will always fail them. How sad, they could live in victory, but will go on in defeat because they found no profit in the gospel.

God's great invitation is open to all who would believe and abide in Christ. It is an invitation to cast all of our care upon Him, to take His yoke upon us and learn of Him, because His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

You have a choice even now, make Him your all in all and find rest or retain control of your own life, traversing from one frustration to another.

The Apostle and High Priest of our Profession

Heb 3:1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

"Apostle" by strict definition, is an ambassador of the gospel, one commissioned to carry the good news. We are well acquainted with the Apostolic band of the Disciples. Some of the qualifications mentioned are told us by Paul. An apostle is one who had seen the Lord and had been granted miraculous signs. I Cor 9:1, II Cor 12:12. Also, see Acts 1:21. He was one chosen by the Lord, specifically called and ordained to that high office.

But here, and nowhere else in the Bible, do we see that Jesus is the Apostle of our profession. He was chosen by God and sent all the way from heaven to earth, the very embodiment of the gospel. The title "Christ" also defines this mission. It means "the Anointed One."

The original Apostles were faithful in their mission of carrying the good news to the known world in their day. Thomas went to India, John to Asia Minor, Jude took the Word to Armenia, Syria and Persia. Matthew is said to have gone to Persians, Parthians and Medes. Paul took the good news as far as to Europe.

But our Apostle and High Priest brought the gospel all the way from the throne of heaven to the world.

I think of Squire Parson's classic words:

The gulf that separated me from Christ my Lord
It was so vast the crossing I could never ford
From where I was to His demand, it seemed so far
I cried dear Lord, I cannot come to where you are...

Then He came to me, He came to me, when I couldn't come to where He was, He came to me.
That's why He died on Calvary, when I couldn't come to where He was, He came to me.

He came to me when I was bound in the chains of my sin
He came to me when I possessed no hope within
He picked me up and He drew me gently to His side,
Where, today, in His sweet love I now abide.

Then He came to me, He came to me, when I couldn't come to where He was, He came to me. That's why He died on Calvary, When I couldn't come to where He was, He came to me.

We can never be apostles, that office has ceased. But we can still do the important work of taking the gospel to our world. To whom will you carry the good news today? Ask God right now to lay some soul on your heart and then prayerfully go and tell them of God's great salvation.

The Creation ala Louis L’Amour - by Gary Fuller

Riding along in the low country, a soul tends to hanker for the far off hills. Ain’t nothing like a saddle beneath you, strapped to some fine horseflesh and the inverted bowl of blue velvet overhead. Warm sunshine tends to wash the soul and fill a heart longing for human company.

He, the Good Lord, began to cipher all it would take to make this happen for the cowboy that’d be set in time and space, and, suddenly, He began to speak the whole durn shootin match into existence. He had mighty broad shoulders and narrow hips, with efficient muscles showing from underneath a white burlap robe, yet it was the voice that thundered all into existence. ‘Course, that knowing mind had planned it all out first. So, with nary but a word, He formed the clay that would bear hoof falls for thousands of years to come and then He bladed that ground with green grass to sustain all sorts of beasts, particularly the horse.

The peaks of the far blue mountains, He stretched clear up to the azure skies, such a sight it was that the word “good” caught in His throat before escaping into the breeze. Deep inside the hills, He placed the oro and the plata that would cause fallen hearts to covet for their rich beauty. Directly, with an artist’s touch, He carved the vales and canyons, the caverns, depressions, tinejas, sloughs and trenches which would hold the life source for many an animal and Indian.

Separating the restlessness of day from the convalescence of nighttime, the Great Spirit above spread the stars in abundance throughout the skies and from horizon to horizon. They would serve to direct sailors on the sea, natives in the jungle, cowpokes on the range and magi in the desert. He parlayed that great yellow orb into being so’s a body could see proper to mend fence, ride herd or assess horse flesh or a pert gal, ever which a feller would fancy to ‘preciate.

By time it all came to pass, all the worlds were fashioned. Supplies were laid up for a good spell. The high valleys were populated with deer and mountain sheep and flowers that’d make a chap’s eyes pop clear outta his head. Trees were grown that’d take six hombres hand in hand to stretch around, so’s lumber would be t’hand for a sturdy built cabin and a split wood fence to contain the livestock gettin’ fattened up for sale.

Then, if’n that Heavenly Feller’s works tweren’t enough for an eternity of wonder, He up and made a bloke so rough and ready that he’d wear leather out from the inside first! But, knowin that that poke would need someone, at the end of a long day of eatin dust and forming blisters, someone a’fixin him a slab of beef, coffee that’d raise the hair on top of your goose bumps and a pipin’ hot apple pie thick as a wood plank an’ sweeter than a honeysuckle. He done outdid His own self by making a girl so purdy she’d make your toes curl in your pointy boots! He brought that there filly, fashioned from the poke’s rib, right to him in her curvy birthday suit. The cowboy done swallered real hard and exclaimed, Whoa, man! And the Good Lord, He said, “That’s good!”