Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

TOO GOOD FOR THIS WORLD, Part 4

This entry was posted on 04-13-2009 and is filed under FAITH.

"They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated - the world was not worthy of them" (Heb. 11:37, 38 NIV).

Perhaps you should remember this verse the next time you think, "I don't have anything fit to wear to church this Sunday." Today's text informs us that believers were reduced to wearing the skins of animals. The New Testament in Modern English (Phillips) says, "Many became refugees with nothing but sheepskins to cover them." They had lost everything. Everything had been taken from them, even the very clothes on their back. They were "utterly destitute" (Amplified). That means virtually everything was gone - shelter, food, and clothing. Now here is a companion verse that will blow your mind away. To me it is the most amazing verse in the entire book of Hebrews! "You...joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions" (Heb. 10:34 NIV).

Could you "joyfully accept the confiscation of your property" - even if it left you "utterly destitute" and forced you to wander the earth wearing nothing but animal skins? How did these early believers react in such amazing fashion? Because by faith they knew that they had "a much more solid and lasting treasure in Heaven" (Phillips). This indeed is "naked faith." They were stripped bare of everything except their faith in God and hope of heaven. They "cheerfully submitted to the violent seizure" of everything they owned (Williams). The "health and wealth" preachers and followers will never, ever understand true biblical faith! Could the heroes of this verse come back to us today and visit one of these preachers or churches they would probably die of shock! No wonder the text says of them "of whom the world was not worthy." Indeed, they were "too good for this world!"

Hymn: "For all the saints who from their labors rest, Who Thee by faith before the world confessed, Thy name, O Jesus, be forever blest: Alleluia! Alleluia!" (William W. How)