If You Keep the Faith, You Win!

Immediately after all the stories of the people of great faith in Hebrews 11:4-31, Hebrews 11:32-35 tells us that “they shut the mouths of lions, escaped death etc.… “. That’s the part I remember that they trusted God and “they won”!!

“By faith these people overthrew kingdoms, ruled with justice, and received what God had promised them. They shut the mouths of lions, ³⁴ quenched the flames of fire, and escaped death by the edge of the sword. Their weakness was turned to strength. They became strong in battle and put whole armies to flight. ³⁵ Women received their loved ones back again from death.” Hebrews 11:32-35 NLT.

However, if you keep reading, it also speaks of those who “didn’t win”; who suffered and were killed for their faith.  Their faith was strong enough that they would give everything for their belief in God.

“But others were tortured, refusing to turn from God in order to be set free. They placed their hope in a better life after the resurrection. ³⁶ Some were jeered at, and their backs were cut open with whips. Others were chained in prisons. ³⁷ Some died by stoning, some were sawed in half, and others were killed with the sword. Some went about wearing skins of sheep and goats, destitute and oppressed and mistreated. ³⁸ They were too good for this world, wandering over deserts and mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground.” Hebrews 11:35-38 NLT.

Faith – Simply Trusting God Every day is the End Game

It struck me while reading all this that faith is the key, no matter the outcome.  So even if you don’t achieve the thing you think God called you to, the reward you thought you’d get, just keeping faith daily is the end game, is the goal, it is what is required of you. If you keep your faith until the end of your life, you win.

Simply being faithful, lovingly working to serve God every day means you’ve achieved the goal for your life, no matter what is happening around you in the physical world.  As long as you pursue that relationship every day, your life will be well lived no matter what it looks like in the physical world.  No matter what others think of you.  No matter what you think, others think of you.  You have met your life goal each day that you stay in close relationship with God and listen to the leading of His Holy Spirit.

Thank you, Father, for making it so simple for me to “win” at life.  All I need to do is stay as close to You as possible, and I will have accomplished all You expect of me.  I don’t have to jump through hoops or attain some unreachable goal; I just need to stay in step with You.  What an awesome God You are!