The writer of Hebrews said it so well – we are “…surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (Heb. 12:1).” The more we read through God’s Word, the more we are aware of the rich tradition of our faith in the One True God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the One Who sent His Son to die on the Cross to be our Redeemer. Hebrews 11 is an inspired and eloquent recounting of our heritage as faithful followers of God. We need to be humble and respectful as we proceed through these hallowed halls.
As an American, we treasure our visits to the Smithsonian Museums in Washington, D.C. This collection of great museums serve to house the antiquities of our nation’s existence as well display the broad expanse of people and their accomplishments as they participated in our country’s development. The incredible display of great people who have made America great is a centerpiece, but there are a vast array of exhibits that would take weeks to fully appreciate. From the original declarations of our Republic, to the heroes who have sacrificially served our country at war, to the amazing accomplishments of space exploration – there is a great and moving story to tell. Of course, I am sure that other countries of the world have similar collections that bring pride to their citizens, and it is natural to all of us to celebrate these great accomplishments of our people.
In the context of our study of Hebrews, as we have celebrated the great High Priestly work of our Savior, Jesus Christ, it is also reasonable to expect that we would want to as it were “put on display” the great people and their accomplishments of those who have contributed to the history of our faith in God and our Lord Jesus Christ. Through these 39 verses we are encouraged to pause and consider the significant contribution and example provided by each hero of our faith. By their testimony, they motivate us and move us forward in our personal life of faith so that we are encouraged to continue their tradition of faithfulness as expressed in Heb. 12:1-2 and “run with endurance the race that is set before us.”
