Friday, December 23, 2016

As Good As Dead


In Hebrews 11 the writer compiles a list of people that we often refer to as the heroes of the faith.  These saints of old obtained a good report because of their belief and trust in God’s promises even though circumstances were opposed to them.


Without faith it is impossible to please God.  By faith Enoch escaped death because he had this testimony, that he pleased God.  He walked so close to God that one day he just stepped over into heaven.     


Noah and his family escaped the destruction of the flood because they believed God and acted on His instructions to build an ark.  They were as good as dead except that they obeyed God. 


Abraham and Sarah were beyond child bearing age yet God promised them a Son.  The scripture speaks of the deadness of Sarah’s womb; they were both as good as dead, yet by the miraculous power of God Sarah received strength to conceive.  After giving birth to Isaac, God told Abraham to sacrifice him upon an altar.  Isaac was as good as dead when Abraham lifted the knife but God intervened and provided a ram for a sacrifice. 


As a baby, Moses was as good as dead when his mother constructed a little boat and sent him down the river.  By the miraculous intervention of God the daughter of Pharaoh heard his cry and rescued him from the slaughter of the Hebrew children.  


Rahab the harlot was as good as dead during the destruction of Jericho.  By God’s miraculous intervention she and all her house were spared because she hid the spies and helped them escape. 


Though there are many points to be made from this list, I want to focus on the aspect of being as good as dead.  Joseph was as good as dead when his brothers threw him into a pit to die, but a pattern in scripture is revealed here.  It goes back to the death, burial and resurrection cycle that is necessary for entrance into God’s Kingdom and the subsequent increase.


Enoch stepped over into the heavenly kingdom.  Noah and his family entered into salvation and went on to repopulate the earth.  Abraham and Sarah went from being childless to having offspring numbering as the sand of the sea and the stars of the sky.  Through Isaac and his descendants would come God’s promised redeemer, the Messiah.  We also find the harlot Rahab named in the lineage of the Christ child.  Moses was used of God to deliver the Israelites who were held captive to bondage in Egypt for over four hundred years. 


All those mentioned above were in one form or another as good as dead, but by God’s intervention went on to greatness.  There are at least three types of increase revealed in the cycle of sowing and reaping, or death burial and resurrection.  Enoch received power and authority to overcome death.  Moses and Joseph increased in authority to rule and reign.  Noah, Abraham and Rahab are mentioned as having many offspring.  I am sure all of those mentioned above received an increase in intimacy with God as well. 

Everything we do is by God’s empowering grace, but it requires faith on our part to act on the promise we receive.  Taking up the cross is to be as good as dead.  In other words we are to be a living sacrifice.  Our increase in life comes as God responds to our faith with miraculous intervention to bring about His promise for our destiny. 

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