Three Things Observed Among Believers

And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. provided...: Or, foreseene - Hebrews 11:32-40

    If you read the lives of God’s saints in any age, you will observe three things about them, three things that make it impossible for unbelievers to understand them or their faith in Christ: (1.) Diversity, (2.) Unity, and (3.) Trials. We certainly see these three things in this last section of Hebrews 11.

    Diversity

    First, we see a great diversity in faith, not in the Object of faith, or in the doctrine of faith, but in the people of faith. Believers are not like cookies cut out by the same cutter. We do not all look alike, talk alike, or act alike. Without question, all believers are alike in many things. All seek to obey God. All seek to honor Christ. All seek to do good in this world.

    Still, we are individuals. And the Lord deals with us personally and individually. He shapes each into the image of Christ. Each experiences the workings of God’s providence in his life differently. And the workings of God’s providence are tailored to affect every detail of our lives, to bring us into conformity with Christ and to the glory of God. And it is all accomplished by God’s free grace (Rom. 8:28-31).

    Unity

    Second, there is a great unity in faith. All God’s people are one. All these men and women named (and unnamed) in these 40 verses are (not were) one in Christ. God’s church and God’s kingdom is one. In verse 40 Paul says, “that they without us should not be made perfect.” That is to say, the body of Christ was not complete and could not be complete until each of his chosen, redeemed brethren has been brought into living, vital union with him by faith (Eph. 1:22-23).

    We are all loved, chosen and, adopted as the sons of God. We are all redeemed by the blood of Christ. We are all born of one Spirit. We all have the same Father and Elder Brother. We all have the same faith. We all have the same inheritance awaiting us. We are all going to the same home. We all have the same hope. May God give us grace to live in that blessed unity, for the glory of his name (Eph. 4:1-7).

    Trials

    Third, verses 33-38 show us something that most every believer learns very quickly and continues learning all the days of his pilgrimage through this world. —Wherever faith is found, trials follow (Phil. 1:29). Wherever you find a man or woman who believes God, you are sure to find a person whose faith is tried, tried by God, tried for the purpose of doing him good (James 1:1-2, 12).