By Stuart Powell
The writer of Hebrews finished describing the faithfulness of ancient believers by pointing out that their hope was unfulfilled in their lifetime.
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth (Hebrews 11:13).
Those ancient believers longed to see the Messiah’s arrival, but they did not. However, it wasn’t just the days of Christ’s ministry for which they longed. Noah, Abraham, Jacob, Joseph, and Moses saw a better day in the distance when God’s rule will be restored. Their hope has now become our hope. We look forward to the day when the world will be set right—when the curse will be banished, the universal rule of good will be restored, and justice will fill our every breath.
Christians have become like the ancient Jews in longing to become strangers to the ways of the world. Our faith shapes our actions and expectations. That hope casts out cynicism and despair and replaces it with the longing for God’s redemption plan to be complete. We anticipate the time when every person will live each day for God’s glory. We hope for the day when our faith will be sight, when our stubborn reliance on God will be vindicated, and when God will glorify us with Christ. We hold firm to the gospel for all of this.
God’s faithful followers struggle through life anticipating the end of injustice and condemnation. The restoration of fellowship between humanity and divinity will come on the day God has planned. He made a plan for our restoration. He prepared a culture of anticipation. God paid the penalty demanded for our rejection of his fellowship.
The bread we eat is the inspired reminder of Jesus’ perfect body that became our sacrifice. The cup we drink points to the sinless blood poured out to atone for our sins. Let us eat and drink together in our hope of the Messiah’s return.
Stuart Powell lives outside of Terre Haute, Indiana, where he serves with the North Side Christian Church.
Author: Christian Standard
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