Foolish, isn’t it, to oppose the singing of God’s praise and the preaching of the cross against the mighty powers of a fallen world? But God likes that kind of foolishness, and uses it all the time: see I Corinthians 1.
The Gaither Vocal Band, with Ernie Haas, sings These Are They Whom Have Come Out of Great Tribulation: this is Revelation 7:14, with echoes of Hebrews 11.
I am reminded again of King Alfred’s words: “For the Lord is our defense, Jesu defend us!”
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. –Hebrews 11:14
Occupy until I come. –Luke 19:13
This is a sweet old hymn, a folk hymn, with a message that we are but pilgrims and sojourners upon God’s earth, on our way to His Kingdom.
But the earth is the Lord’s, too; and when we finally get to where we’re going, we want to hear Him say, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant.”
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen… (Hebrews 11:1)
Here at our place, it’s our custom to watch Miracle on 34th Street after Thanksgiving. I don’t know how many times we’ve seen it. It never grows stale for us.
Just suppose a nice old man insists that he is, in fact, Santa Claus; and that he’s put on trial for his sanity. How could he possibly get out of this jam? It would take a miracle–right?
And a miracle is just what we get. And without any laws of nature being broken, either.
Look, if this story doesn’t stir up your feelings, you’re probably ready for an autopsy.
It’s a parable. It’s a story about faith. It’s what you’d get if someone were to make a movie of Hebrews 11:1. Do yourself a good turn, and see it. Or see it again. It will do you good.