Blue Lake Presbyterian Church | 8-14-2016
Cleveland Ohio, Charlotte NC, Hollywood Ca, Munich Germany, Indianapolis Ind, Cooperstown NY, Springfield Mas, What do these cities have in common? In a little bit we will find out what it is.
Good morning, welcome to Blue Lake on this great Sunday morning. The title of the Sermon today is “The Ultimate Hall of Fame”
After the last sermon on “Strength in faith”, I received a call from a listener in Fort Lauderdale Florida who shared, that at age 25 he was diagnosed with metastasized melanoma, a very rapid form of cancer.
The doctor told him there was really nothing they could do about that type of cancer. Once it gets into the blood system, it is just a matter of time before it attacks the major organs.
Then on top of it, one day his dog was hit by a semi-truck and died, he was very upset and cried out to God, why do you do this to me, I have terminal cancer, soon going to die, and now my dog is dead. He went to bed angry and crying.
Next morning, still in a sad, mental state, the phone rang and it was the nurse at the doctor’s office, what do you want? Stop bothering me, I am dying, leave me alone.
The nurse said, but sir, the doctor needs to talk to you.
Then the oncologist got on the line and told him that something miraculous had happened, based on the test that was done earlier in the week, the cancer had disappeared, and he was cancer free, the doctor could not explain how this miracle possibly could have occurred.
This happened 43 years ago and this listener in Fort Lauderdale Florida is cancer free to this day as he told me this story a few weeks ago.
Anyone heard of DeKalb corn from DeKalb Illinois? That’s where my in-laws are from, and years ago while visiting there on a family vacation, I decided to take a 7 hour drive to Canton Ohio with my son and a nephew to see the NFL hall of fame. Mixing in some business, we first stopped in Cleveland to see a customer. Cleveland is a fascinating city, located on Lake Erie, home of the NBA champion Cavaliers.
It is also home of the “Rock and Roll Hall of Fame”. We then drove to Canton Ohio. For two boys playing high school football at the time, the NFL Hall of fame was like going to Heaven. Seeing the statues of all the NFL great was truly impressive.
Just this last weekend, eight big names in American football were enshrined in the NFL hall of fame. Including quarterback Brett Favre, coach Tony Dungy, wide receiver Marvin Harrison and former 49r owner Eddie DeBartolo. Brett Favre gave a passionate and emotional speech last Saturday. He opened with: Thank you Canton, Thank you “Hall of Fame” and Thank you, Jesus Christ my Lord and Savior, followed by a thundering wave of applause.
The remarkable speech was full of emotion and anecdotes of faith, the faith his father had in him while he was in high school. He shared a story about his father, who as his high school football coach, after a disappointing game, told the other coaches that his son would do better the next game, because he had it in him. Brett overheard the conversation, didn’t tell anyone. But the faith his father showed, at that moment inspired him, he spend the rest of his career trying to redeem himself, making his father proud, it lead him to become the best quarterback of all time……..
Halls of fame can be found in nearly every aspect of life. The rock and Roll Hall of fame in Cleveland, NCAA in Indianapolis, basketball in Springfield, Nascar in Charlotte, Baseball in Cooperstown. Hollywood has a walk of fame; Even the flower industry in America has a floriculture hall of fame in Alexandria Virginia.
The term “Hall of Fame” was popularized in America by the Hall of Fame for great Americans by Bronx community college in New York City in 1900.
Inspiration for this concept came from Munich Germany with the Walhalla Memorial, dating back to the 1807 where notable people in German history, going back centuries are recognized and enshrined.
But the script for the “Ultimate Hall of Fame”, recognizing those for their Faith in God, what is commonly referred to as the “Faith Hall of fame” was written almost 2000 years ago by an anonymous author who wrote a letter, to the Hebrews. This brings us to our text of today:
Hebrews 11:29 – 12:2 on page……………….
29By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as if it were dry land, but when the Egyptians attempted to do so they were drowned. 30By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. 31By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.
32And what more should I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets—
33who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, won strength out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35Women received their dead by resurrection. Others were tortured, refusing to accept release, in order to obtain a better resurrection. 36Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37They were stoned to death, they were sawn in two, they were killed by the sword; they went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, persecuted, tormented— 38of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground. 39Yet all these, though they were commended for their faith, did not receive what was promised, 40since God had provided something better, so that they would not apart from us, be made perfect.
12Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy, that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat, at the right hand of the throne of God.
Wow, the author didn’t hold back did he? This letter was written to the Hebrews. But who were the Hebrews?
Unlike the letters of Paul who were addressed to believers in specific cities like Thessalonica, Corinth and Philippi in Greece or the province of Galatia in modern day Turkey or to the early believers in Rome. This letter was written to the Hebrews, early followers of Jesus living in the land of Israel.
The letter to the Hebrews starts out with references to the roots of Judaism and laying an immediate link to Jesus Christ.
In Hebrew 1 at says: After God spoke long ago in various portions and in various ways to our ancestors through the prophets, in these last days he has spoken to us in a son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he created the world. The Son is the radiance of his glory and the representation of his essence, and he sustains all things by his powerful word, and so when he had accomplished cleansing for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
The writer takes us from the ancestors through the prophets straight to the son, Jesus Christ who is the radiance of his glory and represents the essence of God Almighty, and after cleansing the sins of the world on the cross, he now sits at the right hand of the father in the Kingdom of God.
There is not another letter in the New Testament that put more emphasis on scripture as a way to guide our daily lives than this letter to the Hebrews.
The letter provides a challenge to live by faith but it does so in an encouraging setting.
In the 11th chapter of Hebrews, faith is mentioned 26 times, more than any other chapter in the whole bible. The author highlights profound examples of faith, going back to the first book in the bible, the book of Genesis, starting with Abel and Enoch pleasing God and Noah who by Faith built that Ark while all others laughed at him.
It lists three examples where the faith of Abraham was tested. Then it describes the faith journeys of Isaac, Jacob, Joseph and Moses.
The letter was addressed to the Israelites, the children of God, the descendants of the 12 tribes of Jacob, these folks knew the Torah, the first 5 books of the bible, like no other.
Hebrews11 is called the “Faith Hall of Fame” for good reason; there are 20 specific examples of Faith in God.
The writer in Hebrews said: since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, in other words here are the people that went before us through faith, and are now inductees in the “Ultimate Hall of Fame”, the Kingdom of God.
It said in chapter 12: Let us lay aside, take off the weight and the sin that keeps us down, drop it, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, the one who endured the cross, to carry our sins, but now has taken the seat at the right hand of the throne of God.
Take off that weight, what does that mean? We ask for forgiveness and repent (stop) of our sins. Once the weight comes off, and the chains are broken, we now can run like never before. It says run with perseverance looking to Jesus.
Become a witness, tell your story, just like these Teen challenge students here today. How encouraging and uplifting. You are an inspiration to all, Thank you……
Last week I went to Holland for a few days, visit some bulbs suppliers and attend a wedding for one of my nieces.
We also took a little time to visit the Corrie ten Boom House in Haarlem and saw that room with the hiding place. What an incredible experience.
In the living room hang an embroidered picture made by Corrie ten Boom herself, but it was facing the back side, and all you could see was this mess of embroidery, knots and threads tied together and going all different directions, a confusing mess, then the tour guide turned it around and on the other side was a beautiful embroidery depicting the crown of the kingdom of God.
Next to it was a poem called “the weaver” by Grant Colfax Tullar.
My life is but a weaving
Between my God and me.
I cannot choose the colors
He weaveth steadily.
Oft’ times He weaveth sorrow;
And I in foolish pride
Forget He sees the upper
And I the underside.
Not ’til the loom is silent
And the shuttles cease to fly
Will God unroll the canvas
And reveal the reason why.
The dark threads are as needful
In the weaver’s skillful hand
As the threads of gold and silver
In the pattern He has planned
He knows, He loves, He cares;
Nothing this truth can dim.
He gives the very best to those
Who leave the choice to Him.
I thought about this for a while and what a great analogy to our daily lives. Sometimes it feels like whatever happens, none of it makes sense, like the listener in Fort Lauderdale Florida, we feel God is not with us, we feel alone and confused. (He gives the very best to those, who leave the choice to Him). What a profound statement of Faith. With that type of faith in the Lord, he will ultimately show us, when turning the picture around, what the true meaning of life is all about. That listener in Florida has since written a number of bestselling inspirational books, and he coaches others in business and personal advice…….
Here is the question, do we live in doubt or do we have faith, faith in God, faith in our Lord Jesus, to lead us, and guide us.
Can we draw inspiration from the folks in Hebrews 11, the “Faith Hall of Fame”, how faith persevered, and how it lead them into the kingdom?
Thomas Aquinas said: To one who has faith no explanation is necessary to one without faith no explanation is possible.
Faith is like electricity, you can’t see it but you can see the light.
“Jesus said I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
Brett Favre may have been the best quarterback of all time, or Eddie DeBartolo one of the most popular owners, and the other inductees undoubtedly met all the qualifications. Hebrews 11, rates its “Hall of Fame” inductees by the faith they demonstrated,
Ladies and Gentlemen, what is the “take away” as we leave here this morning?
Martin Luther King said faith is taking the first step, even when you don’t see the whole staircase.
What do we need to do, to enter the Kingdom of God, to follow those who went before us to the “Ultimate Hall of Fame?
Samuel Shoemaker said eternal life does not begin with death, it begins with faith.
The Letter to the Hebrews, gives clear instructions on how to become an inductee into the “Ultimate Hall of Fame”. Repent of our sins, and run the race that is set before us.
Recognize that we cannot do it alone and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. Surrender to him and let him enter our hearts.
Jesus said in mark 4:26 faith is like a seed; plant it in your heart. God gives the harvest at the appointed time
Folks, let that little seed of faith be planted in our hearts.
DL moody said: A little faith will bring your soul to heaven but a lot of faith will bring heaven to your soul.
Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart.
Jesus said: Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life,
As we leave today, let our faith in Jesus Christ, lead us unto the pathway to Eternal Life,
The road to “The Ultimate Hall of Fame”,
Amen
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