In Memory of Our Heroes

Posted on May 27, 2007

 

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Hebrews 11:32-12:2

Memorial Day

It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it expanded to include those who died in any war or military action.

I think it’s appropriate that we stand for a moment of silent prayer, simply to honor the lives of those who have sacrificed themselves for us…

The Hall of Heroes – Hebrews 11

I want us to focus on the rarely mentioned portion of this passage, verses 32 to 40, the “lesser known” heroes.

IN MEMORY OF OUR HEROES…

1. Let us learn from the example of their lives.

Look at all of the action words that provide us a great model to live by…

“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…

received their dead raised to life again…

were tortured, not accepting deliverance…”

2. Let us remember the meaning of their deaths.

Then follows the terrible description of the deaths of so many martyrs of the faith. The author concludes by raising up an everlasting memorial to them with these words…

“Of whom the world was not worthy…”

He also says that their deaths mean something in that they witnessed to the power of faith to the very end…

“…so great a cloud of witnesses (martyrs, those who testify)…”

3. Let us look to the greatest Hero of all!

The author doesn’t want us to stop merely by remembering or even by being inspired. He wants us to see the ultimate witness to the faith – Jesus Christ!

· We can lay aside the sin of unbelief.

· We can determine to endure in the faith.

· We can fix our eyes on Jesus who is standing just across the finish line with our saved loved ones, all of those heroes of the faith!

Will you be there? Will you cross the finish line of faith and spend eternity with the world’s greatest Hero?