"Gaining God's Approval"

  Wouldn't it be great if we were like the men and women of Hebrews 11? These men and women of faith that was recorded by the Holy Spirit living by faith. I want to have a faith like theirs, don't you? But when we examine it closely, we find men and women of faith that were really flawed. Some were spiritual messes at times!

  We look at Abraham, a man of great conviction and faith. In his servanthood to the Lord, he made great blunders. Abraham lied about his wife being his wife...twice! He was trying to spare his own life. If someone did that today we would call them a liar and many would have such an attitude toward them. "They are nothing but a liar!" would be the attitude of some. It took an out-sider to rebuke him for his actions.

  And what of David? A man after God's own heart yet his life was anything but faithful at times. We know of his immorality, to deception, to cover-up and murder. What would we do with such a man today if he were in the church? What would your attitude be toward someone such as this? Let's be honest here.

  We come to us. Well intended in our service, striving to seek the Lord's will and do it. We are people of integrity and uprightness, or that's what we see ourselves as. But reading through the list of men and women of faith, we find ourselves not being able to put us in their line of faith! Here they are in all their weaknesses and failures yet we regard them as faithful because God regarded them as faithful. It concerns me how easily we throw away an eldership because of mistakes made and they are attacked as if they are the most ungodly men on earth. Yet here is Sampson in the list of faith and he sold out God's promise yet we don't see him as unfaithful. Or what about Rahab the harlot? Many look at preachers and if a preacher makes a serious blunder, attitudes are taken toward him and attacks made.

  Let's face it. Sometimes we, all of us, are spiritual messes!!! Abraham held to God. David held to God. Sampson held to God. Rahab held to God. And God said of them: "And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect." (Heb. 11:39-40) They gained approval of God! God wouldn't let them go because their faith always brought them to God! When you look in the mirror and see who is looking back at you, we can acknowledge we need some serious tune-ups spiritually. Just because of failure doesn't mean we are unholy. We are God's work, all the way to the end! Yep, I have to admit, we are just like those men and women of faith that gained God's approval.