COWARDLY NOT

Hebrews 10:32-39; Ps 37 The salvation of the just comes from the Lord; MArk 4:26-34

I just want to look at a few words from the Letter of Hebrews.

"Knowing you had a better and lasting possession…"

Do we know this?  Are we willing to forsake all else for that which is lasting?

Jim Elliot is the one who said "he is no fool to give up what he can not long keep for what he can never lose?"


How much of our life is determined by that which we can not long keep, earthly possessions and material realities?

Yesterday at the school mass I asked the children to list the property they have.  They mentioned their homes, their toys, their pastures and lawns, their 4 wheel gators, their guns, their video games and so on and so forth.

I asked them for show of hands  as to how many would be wiling to surrender all of that for God himself.  Sadly many of them wouldn't though a few were thinking about it.

But isn't that our secular society that we have allowed to swallow up the thinking of our children.  isn't that the society we have allowed to dictate our own lives and actions.

The full quote of the text above from the letter of hebrew is as follows, "you even joined in the sufferings of those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you had a better and lasting possession. Therefore do not throw away your confidence; it will have great recompense."

Have we thrown away our confidence?  The more we rely on material possessions the weaker we become and less courageous we are for that which matters most of all.

Possessions possess. In doing do they weaken our will for the highest good.

Lastly the author of Hebrews states, "We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life."

We are not cowards.  The is what the letter is inviting us to embrace.  We are not cowards.  Int he words of Elvis, "don't be cruel to a east that is true."

God will not forsake us but only purify us and allow us to focus on that which is lasting not that which is passing away.

On what have w built our life: that which we can not long keep or that which we can never lose.