Made Perfect Together

“By faith Rahab the prostitute escaped the destruction of the disobedient, because she welcomed the spies in peace. And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets. Through faith they conquered kingdoms, administered justice, gained what was promised, shut the mouths of lions, quenched raging fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength in weakness, became mighty in battle, put foreign armies to flight, and women received back their dead raised to life. But others were tortured, not accepting release, to obtain resurrection to a better life. And others experienced mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, sawed apart, murdered with the sword; they went about in sheepskins and goatskins; they were destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (the world was not worthy of them); they wandered in deserts and mountains and caves and openings in the earth. And these all were commended for their faith, yet they did not receive what was promised. For God had provided something better for us, so that they would be made perfect together with us,” Hebrews 11:31-40 NET

As I contemplate the names of those who died in faith, I am powerfully moved by the understanding that their lives were anchored in the promise of a better future. This promise, imparted by God, spoke of a Messiah who would usher in a world of peace. Yet, they could not foresee that this transformative peace would first arise within the hearts of people, with Jesus at the very core—ruling and reigning within us with authority and power that is profoundly rooted in the Father’s everlasting love.

These faithful people received only a glimpse of the promise—a fleeting understanding that empowered them to endure unspeakable torture for something yet to be realized. Their unwavering commitment to their faith drove them to willingly suffer and even lay down their lives. In contrast, our lives are a powerful testament to the promise fulfilled in Christ. While we may not have fully realized the physical promise, we now see it more clearly through Jesus, the ultimate fulfillment of God's Word. We have been given a significant down payment in the form of the Holy Spirit, who reveals to us the fullness of Jesus. Yet, we await the grand culmination of the physical kingdom that will manifest at the end of the great commission. Our hope is alive, and we are called to embody that promise as we anticipate its glorious fulfillment.

We have received the powerful promise of the indwelling Christ, which serves as the first part of the transformative “now and not yet” understanding of kingdom theology. The second part heralds the complete fulfillment of the new covenant and the triumphant establishment of Jesus' reign on earth. This means that the old must indeed pass away to make way for the new, renewing this world and everything in it. Imagine a reality where Eden itself reclaims the earth, ushering in a glorious transformation into a kingdom of love that will envelop all of creation. This vision is not just hopeful; it is the inevitable destiny awaiting us.

What does it mean that God has provided something better for us? It primarily signifies that we, as a community, are called to usher in the kingdom through Christ—a promise that extends to everyone, including those who have died in faith. This inclusive promise ensures that all may enter this glorious kingdom of love. Through our perfection in Jesus, we pave the way for others to join us, allowing us all to enter together as fully-fledged sons of God. We are heirs of the great promise that we are all His human children, born for such a time as this.

This passage highlights the patience and faith of those who have gone before us. A great cloud of witnesses, who remained faithful until the very end, has inspired us. They faced death with patience, trusting that they would receive the kingdom, even though they did not know when it would come. Their enduring testimony and faith inspire and empower us as we deepen our understanding of Christ, we all partake in the richness of His sacrifice, recognizing Him as the Savior for all.

Each of their sacrifices were not in a vacuum; the sacrifices made by these prophets were far from isolated; each endured profound suffering that shaped their mission. Take Isaiah, the young prophet burdened with a weighty message from the Lord, who faced rejection from his own people and ultimately met a gruesome fate—enclosed in a hollow log and sawn in two. Consider Jeremiah, whose heart ached with anguish over the spiritual plight of Israel, prompting him to weep openly for his people. Then there's Joel, who experienced the heartbreaking betrayal of his wife, who resorted to prostitution as a living testament to Israel's sin, yet he welcomed her back after her many infidelities. The experiences of God's people are seldom similar in nature, but their suffering serves a profound purpose: to help us grasp God's perspective and to lead us into a deeper understanding of His love and mercy, if only we are willing to embrace that truth.

Where does that leave us today? Are we simply waiting for full redemption? Absolutely not! We are called to actively engage in the kingdom’s work until He returns—this is our mission. We must help gather an abundant harvest of souls, or, to use another powerful metaphor, make a bountiful fish catch, as we are indeed fishers of men. These metaphors were deeply meaningful in the agrarian context of the early church, and we must recognize that our current culture shapes how we understand and share the gospel.

In our fast-paced, information-driven society, we have incredible tools at our disposal—social media and various communication platforms—that help us spread the transformative truths of the gospel. This blog is a prime example of how we can reach others. As we navigate this information age, we hold the incredible opportunity to communicate the gospel to every corner of the earth. Let us seize this moment with urgency and passion to complete the great commission!

Stephen Barnett