This past weekend saw celebrations in many nations for those who have served in the military. Whether it is called Veterans’ Day, Armistice Day, or Remembrance Day, this is a time to recall those heroes who have served, fought, and even died in the service of country and/or freedom.
This is good. We should remember those who have gone before and fought for freedom.
But, dear Christian, there are more who are at least as deserving if not more deserving of remembrance.
Hebrews 11 reminds us of some heroes:
- Abel
- Enoch
- Noah
- Abraham
- Isaac
- Jacob
- Joseph
- Moses
- Gideon
- Barak
- Samson
- Jephthah
- David
- Samuel
- the Prophets
These were people who stood firm for God and laid the framework for the coming Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth.
Yet, there are more!
The New Testament has a list of heroes:
- John, the Baptizer
- Simon Peter
- Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother
- James, son of Zebedee
- John, James’ brother
- Philip
- Bartholomew
- Thomas
- Matthew
- James
- Thaddeus
- Simon the zealot
- Matthias
- Mary
- Paul
- Stephen
- Barnabas
- Mark
- Luke
- Philip
- Procorus
- Nicanor
- Timon
- Parmenas
- Nicolas
- Lydia
- Priscilla
- Aquilas
- Phoebe
- And many, many more!
Notice there are even women listed! If we dug through the Old Testament we would find more women, such as Ruth, Esther, and Deborah, to name but a few.
We need to also remember history since the end of the First Century, those who have carried the Church forward:
- Augustine
- Eusebius
- Tertullian
- Jerome
- Origen
- Pelagius
- Francis of Assisi
- Martin Luther
- John Calvin
- Loyola
- Joan of Arc
- John Wesley
- C.S. Lewis
- Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Mother Teresa
Just to name a very few.
We need to remember these names and so many others for the work they have done to push the Gospel further into the world, deeper into our hearts, and on into the future until the return of our Lord.
Church history is important. We need to know about the ancient past, the past 2000 years, and recent leaders. We need to know why so many things are important.
Too much of recent Church history was resolved in the first few hundred years of Church history, but we have turned our backs on these giants of the faith.
Many recent Church problems have arisen largely due to an ignorance of what has come before.
Some of the time our ignorance of what has been discussed leads to problems.
Some of the time our ignorance of what has been done and why leads to problems.
Most of the time our ignorance of each other leads to problems.
Every time our ignorance of God leads to problems.
We get so focused on our differences that we lose focus of what has come before and who God is.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”
Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.
Hebrews 12:1-8
What are we able to give God?
a simple man of God 