So great a cloud of witnesses

Originally posted on 16 October, 2013 by admin

Hebrews 11 – What a chapter. Heroes of the Faith! Inspiring people – not perfect but following the Lord – described as people “of whom the world was not worthy.” (vs 38) Do you know people like that today?

I do! I have my own “so great a cloud of witnesses.” I was with some of them this past evening.

One of the “dear men” I know went home to be with the Lord this past week. At my age, this is happening more and more often. The people I grew up knowing – the ones I called Aunt and Uncle even if they weren’t – the ones who opened their homes to me when I was a teenager – they are getting older too and then there comes the time when we have to say goodbye … for now.

I walked into the funeral home and there they were. Amongst the crowd of all ages – the older believers who had come to pay their respects – my “so great a cloud”.

Had they “subdued kingdoms”? No, but they had been faithfully “going to meeting” for years and years.

Did they look strong enough to have “stopped the mouths of lions”? No, but they taught their children to memorize scripture.

Had they led the people out of Egypt? No, but they prayed for others, quietly supported missionaries, baked food for others, sent cards and letters, listened and cared for others…

They kept at it. Probably not as perfectly as I’m sure they wanted to – but they just kept at it – putting what they read in the Bible into practice day by day, week by week, month by month, year by year, decade by decade. Days upon days of faithful service to the Lord.

In many of them you can even see the fulfillment of II Corinthians 3:18 and I John 3:2 ahead of time. It`s written all over their faces!

II Cor. 3:18 “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.”

I John 3:2 “…it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.” They just look like they know the Lord!

These older believers whose faces shine with the love of God, and the peace of God which the world just doesn’t understand – they are my cloud of witnesses – shining examples to me of the joy and the worth of following the Lord. I`ve seen them live their lives all my life!

The wonderful things is….I know their “secret” ….They told me! It’s found in Hebrews 12: 1,2 right after the big Heroes of Faith chapter.

“Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.  Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

May we be encouraged to following their example and run the race before us looking ahead to the One Who will meet us at the finish line. We`ll see Him….and the great cloud of witnesses will be there to cheer us on as our Lord welcomes us home.

Rejoicing! Vivienne