Are You Having Any Trouble?

A Study of Heb. 11

There are those religions that teach that once you become a "Christian", your troubles are over, and things are smooth sailing. This is totally wrong. One very popular evangelist once passed out lapel buttons saying, "It's fun to be saved!" Let's look in the Bible and see if the person who follows Christ has an easy life.

I. Heb. 11:13: Abel, Enoch, Noah and Abraham all died not having received the promise, but were strangers and pilgrims.

II. Heb. 11:17-19 - Abraham offered up his only son, Isaac, believing God would raise him from the dead. It didn't happen like Abraham believed it would, but he remained faithful to God.

III. Heb. 11:20 - nothing remarkable is mentioned concerning Isaac. He blessed both Esau and Jacob concerning things to come. This is a most remarkable thing because Isaac received no word from God concerning the promise like Abraham received. The only word he received was from his dad. But he believed and passed the blessing on to the next generation.

IV. Heb. 11:22 - Joseph also received no word from God like Abraham. He remained faithful to the promise even in Egypt, and made mention of the promise on his death bed.

V. Heb. 11:23-28 - Moses chose God's way, forsaking a life of ease in Egypt. When Moses appeared before Israel and showed them the miracles God told him to do, they believed and worshipped God, but when Pharaoh refused to let them go, they cursed him. Israel turned against Moses at every turn, but he continued serving God. Things didn't work like Moses wanted them to, but he remained faithful to God, continuing in the work God had given him to do.

VI. Heb. 11:32-38 - Notice how some of these people had good things happen to them, while others received evil. All of these people remained faithful to God, and this is just like we ought to do.

VII. Heb. 11:39,40 - The answer is in these two verses. All of these people were looking for something better than this world has to offer. They received a measure of these things on this earth, and will receive the completed promise in the life to come.