Hebrews 11:35-40
Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning;they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated - the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
We seldom pay attention to this scripture passage. It talks about some people who by faith chose the kingdom that cannot be corrupted and shaken. Therefore, they rather sacrifice all their worldly possessions, and even their lives, because they witnessed the glory of God's kingdom, so they disregard humiliation by the world.
Those who follow the Lord must be things in the spirit, and they must have eyesight for the kingdom. We shouldn't just look at our own circumstance, but rather we must see that God's kingdom will come. Isaiah saw a vision of the Lord sitting on the high throne and asking: "who can I send? Who will go for us?" His response was: "Lord, here I am, send me." When Isaiah said "here I am," he didn't know where God wanted him to go, or what God wanted him to do. He simply offered himself to God. But when we come before God, we're seldom like Isaiah. We like to negotiate with God, and then we contemplate before making a decision, so no wonder we cannot take a step forward. Isaiah first offered himself for the Lord to send him. When he prayed such prayer before God, God didn't say: "no worries, you will be just fine." On the contrary, God said: "When you preach the gospel, no one will respond; when you work on expanding my kingdom, the land will still be barren; but you will still faithfully do what I told you, because even though the tree will be fall, the root will still be there." Lord then told Isaiah: "I will keep sacred seeds for my own sake, and when the time comes these seeds will germinate and grow into plants. God's kingdom will ultimately come, and God's plan will be done, so you must faithfully obey." Throughout the generation, so many of God's servants offered themselves for the vision of God's kingdom. They solely live for God and stay faithful till they die, just like the examples in this passage.
May God prompt us and prepare us to see His kingdom. Let us be willing to offer ourselves to Him for the life in God's kingdom. Let us together build a church that glories God on earth, and wait upon the second coming of Jesus.
Pray with Pastor Tong
Lord, I thank you, because when we see the vision of kingdom you will give us strength to live for you each and every day. For generations, many of God's servants saw your vision and offered their lives to you. We give thanks and we ask that your spirit place such a sense of mission into our hearts. Let your kingdom come and let your will be done in this generation! I thank you and I pray in the victorious name of Jesus, amen!
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