What We Seek

Hebrews 11:4-7

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.” And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith.

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I asked Bobby Dylan,
I asked the Beatles,
I asked Timothy Leary,
But he couldn't help me either.

They call me the seeker,
I been searchin' low and high.
I won't get to get what I'm after
'til the day I die.

"The Seeker" written by Pete Townshend, recorded by The Who, released on "Meaty Beaty Big and Bouncy"

The heroes of the faith not only had faith, they were faithful. They treated their faith as a noun, a thing to be had; and as a verb, a thing to do.

By faith Abel offered a more acceptable sacrifice. Even after his death, his faith still speaks. Enoch's faith pleased God such that he did not experience death. Noah was warned by God that of the oncoming flood to build an ark because of his faith. By Noah's faith, a world condemned was saved.

While attributed to Enoch, this could be true of all of these heroes of the faith, "And without faith it is impossible to please God, for whoever would approach him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him."

So who should we ask, what should we seek. Evidently it's not Bob Dylan, or the Beatles, or even Timothy Leary. Whenever we seek the advice of someone here on earth, we get their words, their opinions, their instructions. There are some wise men in this world, but none is without sin. Even Abel, Enoch, and Noah. These three remind us to seek who they sought, God.

Roger Daltry sings that he won't get what he seeks 'til the day he dies. Well, this much is true. It is when we meet our maker that the grand questions are answered, but there is still time before the end of time. This was shown by Abel, Enoch, and Noah.

Of course it isn't always easy and fun. Abel was murdered and Noah was mocked. But by their faith they are still honored by God and their names are still remembered. Have faith that in seeking God alone that the answers to what we seek will be answered. Able, Enoch and Noah received blessing, reward, and vocation by their faith. So too will we.

Cutting Away What Doesn't Belong

Hebrews 11:4-5

By faith Abel offered to God a more acceptable sacrifice than Cain’s. Through this he received approval as righteous, God himself giving approval to his gifts; he died, but through his faith he still speaks. By faith Enoch was taken so that he did not experience death; and “he was not found, because God had taken him.” For it was attested before he was taken away that “he had pleased God.”

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I'm lookin' for another kind of love
Oh Lordy, how I need it.
The kind that likes to leap without a shove
Oh, honey, best believe it.
To save a lot of time and foolish pride I'll say what's on my mind, girl
You loved me, you hate me, you cut me down to size.
You blinded me with love and yeah it opened up my eyes

"The Other Side" recorded by Aerosmith, written by Steven Tyler and Jim Vallance from "Pump"

Here's a question that I have never really had answered: What was so almighty acceptable about Abel's sacrifice? Is this how the Lord says, "Cauliflower? Shoot, I'll have more brisket!"  If it was, it would explain a lot about my diet and Texas dietary practices in general.

There are some theories. One is that this is just the first example that the Lord prefers the younger brothers. You see a lot of this in Genesis, but it doesn't say so. One is that while Cain just brought some fruit of the vine, Abel brought the best of the meat--the good stuff with the fat. Even the Lord likes good marbling. Well, again while this points to the Lord having an affection for good Kansas City BBQ, scripture doesn't say that Cain didn't bring first fruit.

Others say that this is just scripture introducing sibling rivalry which is truly one of the recurring themes of Genesis. Hebrews then reminds us that while he died, through his faith he still speaks. Able pleased God even though he was murdered.

The Book of Hebrews also reminds us that Enoch who never tasted death is in the Lord's presence. He is in the Lord's presence just as Able is even though he didn't die. Enoch was taken away because he pleased God, as did Abel.

Both of them were looking for a different kind of love, and as Steven Tyler sings, O Lordy how they need it! It is God's love that leaps without shoving, and it is our love that is to leap without being shoved too. We are called to go and to follow. We are to seize our foolish pride and declare what is true. We are to share our hope, God's love for us with the world.

It is this way that God prunes us to become what we are called to be. It is how God makes us what we are and cuts away what doesn't belong. In killing his brother, Cain cut away what God still loved and Cain found harsh discipline. Still, God doesn't hate as we are disciplined, as the imperfect is cut away, as we are cut down to size, but what is left is perfect.

It is said that when asked how he could carve such marvelous things from marble, Michelangelo would say that he would simply cut away the excess revealing what the stone contained all along. God cuts us to reveal what is there all along. In Enoch, in Able, in us, and yes, maybe even in Cain too.

This is our hope, That in our sinful imperfection the Lord sees what belongs to God.

Crumblin' Tumblin' Down

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Hebrews 11:30-31

By faith the walls of Jericho fell after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute did not perish with those who were disobedient, because she had received the spies in peace.

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When the walls come tumblin' down
When the walls come crumblin' crumblin'
When the walls come tumblin' tumblin' down

"Crumblin' Down" by John Mellencamp

What can be done by faith? There's the old gospel song, "Faith Can Move Mountains." Hebrews 11:1 reminds us "faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen." In short, faith isn't about us. Faith is about what happens around us.

Joshua had to have faith that the walls would come tumblin' down. Sound is powerful, but city walls were built to turn armies away, much less a bunch of priests with horns!

Rahab was promised that by hiding the Israelite spies she would be spared when the invasion began. By faith she believed that promise. It's easy to imagine that someone in the army might not get the memo and slaughter her family though. By faith, God protected her family.

It is by their faith that they have confidence in the salvation promised by God Almighty. They are saved by God's grace through faith. When all seemed unlikely from a human point of view, God makes good on promises, on covenant made with Joshua, Rahab, and with us.

With a mighty leader, with a prostitute, God keeps promises. If you have ever wondered if God's promises are for you, know this is true. Have faith and and the promise of life in God true.