"Get In Line"
August 28, 2005

The Old Testament Lesson: 2 Kings 2: 4 - 10
The New Testament Lesson: Hebrews 11

To inspire people to live and to act in faith

I am going to read a slightly longer passage than I normally do.   We are finishing the sermon series called Unsung heroes  I want you to hear the whole of a segment from Hebrews          You may remember that one of our unsung heroes is the likely author       She is writing to Jewish Christians who were faltering in faith Listen to her emphasis… ( read Hebrews 11 )

I.  The History of the Church is filled with people who suffered for faith.
   A. I admit: my idea to preach about little known examples isn’t original
        1. Many pulpits have been used for this kind of a series.
        2. As we see from our reading today, it’s at least 2000 years old!
        3. The writer of Hebrews used this same tactic.
   B. There were Jewish Christians who were struggling.
        1. They were facing persecutions from their own people.
            a. They had lost close friends,
            b. Their businesses were suffering.
            c. Even their own families were rejecting them because of their faith. The History of the Church is filled with people who suffered for faith
        2. There was a very simple answer to the problem: give up!
            a. All they had to do, really, was keep their mouths shut!
            b. They didn’t have to go to the trouble of renouncing Christ.
            c. All they had to do was stop proclaiming him.
            d. They would be accepted back into the temple and their familiar life.
        3. Many were being tempted by this choice.
   C. In the face of this challenge, the writer of Hebrews holds up examples.
        1. All of these came from the Old Testament
            a. Some are very well known stories.
            b. some take just a few verses to relate.
        2. She sums it all up by stating “time would fail me”
            a. There are numerous examples and there’s not enough paper
            b. Then she says, listen to the things they did
            c. They conquered over incredible odds.
            d. They suffered greatly and didn’t even see their reward!
        3. What did all these examples that span 100s of year have in common?

II.  Faith is at the foundation of accomplishing great things for God!
   A. What these many examples have in common is faith.
        1. Faith is described as “the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen!” Repeat that with me.  Faith is…
            a. Faith operates when there is no solid evidence.
            b. The objects must be hoped for and not seen.
        2. This is the power that motivated the actions of God’s heroes.
            a. They accepted very real suffering because of faith.
            b. They believed in the goals that God placed before them.
            c. They trusted the God who called them into service.
            d. They persevered even though they knew they’d not see the end.
            e. But they did see the end, with their eyes of faith.
        3. And it was in faith that they accomplished their goal.
            a. In many instances, their victory came after death.
            b. They were awarded their medals posthumously.
            c. but they kept moving forward no matter how grim the future looked
            d. They could only do that in faith.
    B. If we want to be like them, we will need that same faith!
        1. The Bible tells us that, without faith, it is impossible to please God!
        2. If we want to be the kind of people that put a smile on God’s face.
            a. We have to believe that God is real.
            b. We also must recognize that God rewards faithful service
            c. Even if we don’t see it.
        3. Have you ever had someone put their faith in you?
            a. “You’re the only one I would trust with this job.”
            b. “I need to talk about this and you’re the only one I trust”
            c. What’s the feeling you get from those words?
            d. There may be some trepidation, not knowing if you can
            e. But Isn’t there a real joy that you are trusted!
        4. Our faith in God, Our trust in God, pleases God and empowers us.

III.  It is time for us to add our names to the role!
   A. The effect of this role call was to galvanize their resolve.
        1. They remembered these heroes.
        2. Their suffering didn’t seem quite so bad after this.
        3. These were people grateful for salvation and ready to serve.
        4. Challenged to get in line and stand with these faith-filled people
    B. We could add to that role quite easily.
        1. From the new Testament we could add names of many who died to proclaim the gospel:  Peter, Paul, Stephen and others
        2. In fact every century could add many, many names to the list:
            a. Ireneus, Clement, Benedict, John Hus, Martin Luther, Tyndale, Deitrict Bonhoeffer, Martin Luther King
            b. Everyone died in God’s service for the gospel.
            c. But those are the famous names.
            d. There are vast numbers who have achieved noble goals and dies for God who are not remembered.
            e. Even as I speak there are Christians in Sudan giving up their lives for their faith in Christ!
        3. Everyone took the challenge to get in line and serve the Lord.
            a. They did so in the power of faith.
            b. knowing only by faith that their labor was worth the sacrifice.
   C. I often wonder if we in Ogden UT have it too easy.
        1. For us, the only thing we sacrifice to worship is a few minutes sleep.
            a. We might have more time to be on the golf course or ski slope.
            b. We might have some time to spend in the garden or with the paper
        2. If we choose to tell others about Jesus’ love, what do we risk?
            a. We might lose a friend or two.
            b. We might face some mocking in the neighborhood or at work.
            c. could be as serious as getting a lower grade or missing promotion.
            d. It is very unlikely that we’ll end up in prison or on the gallows.
        3. Yet, we often don’t accept the challenge that so many before us have.
        4. When will we accept the heritage of our faith and get in line?

Many people are now familiar with the name, Cassie Bernall.  She was once a deeply troubled girl involved in the occult. Her worried parents began taking her to the youth fellowship at West Bowles Community Church. There Cassie came to faith in Christ and spent  nearly three years escaping what she called "the dark side."  She became an incredible advocate for what faith in Christ can do in a person’s life and told as many as she could about the gift of grace she had received.
Then, on April 20^th in the library at Columbine on April 20, she was faced with an incredible choice. Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold took hostages and one of the two teen-age killers put a shotgun to Cassie's head and asked, "Do you believe in God?"

"Yes," Cassie answered.

"Why?" the gunman asked and, without giving her time to answer, pulled the trigger, killing her instantly

Who in America could have anticipated that anyone would be asked to sacrifice their own life for their confession of faith?  Since then, the story of Cassie's confession made her a hero to thousands of Christian youths. They have been inspired in encouraged by her commitment to her faith.

Whether you know it or not, you also have the opportunity to be an inspiration to others with your faith.  It’s unlikely that it will be anything so dramatic.  But there are small sacrifices in front of you.  Are you making them?  There are little challenges to accept.  Are you accepting them.  There are tiny obstacles to overcome.  Are you overcoming them?  Are you getting in line?

As you go from this place, may you walk in the way of Christ Jesus and May God always find you faithful!