A Word about the Perpetual Light

Today we will begin a series of sermons based on our 2026 VBS theme that I am calling The Light of the World. In this episode, we will see that Jesus is The Perpetual Light.

One summer when I was in elementary school, I went on a school-sponsored trip to Washington D.C. We saw all the sights and went to all the monuments, and we did all the things that school trips do. Memorably, we visited several places that involved people dying, which seems rather depressing in hindsight. For example, we visited Ford’s Theater, where President Lincoln was shot, and we also visited the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. In addition, we saw President Kenedy’s grave. Looking back, I am surprised that I didn’t come home with PTSD!

One of the most impressive sights was the Eternal Flame at President Kennedy’s grave. This flame is fed by natural gas, and it has an automatic lighter designed the rekindle the flame should it ever get extinguished for some reason. Reportedly this flame symbolizes everlasting remembrance, unending hope, and eternal life. It is a beautiful and impressive sight to behold.

The thing is, that flame, that light, isn’t eternal. It relies on a local utility company to provide the fuel, which it donates to the monument. The Eternal Flame also requires maintenance, and it was refurbished in 2013. Ironically, the Eternal Flame was accidentally extinguished in December of 1963 by some Catholic schoolchildren who sprinkled it with Holy water! It was also put out by a heavy rain in 1967. A great memorial it is, but eternal it isn’t!

So, if something so important as the Eternal Flame is not eternal, what is? John 8:12-20 tells us,

Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life.” So the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying about yourself. Your testimony is not valid.” “Even if I testify about myself,” Jesus replied, “my testimony is true, because I know where I came from and where I’m going. But you don’t know where I come from or where I’m going. You judge by human standards. I judge no one. And if I do judge, my judgment is true, because it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am the one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.” Then they asked him, “Where is your Father?” “You know neither me nor my Father,” Jesus answered. “If you knew me, you would also know my Father.” He spoke these words by the treasury, while teaching in the temple. But no one seized him, because his hour had not yet come.

The Perpetual Light Has No Beginning:

In our human world, everything has a beginning:

• Life begins when a child is conceived.
• A baseball game begins when the first pitch is thrown.
• A football game begins with the kick-off.
• A school day may begin with the Pledge of Allegiance.
• A ceremony may begin with the National Anthem.
• A worship service begins with prayer.

Even the Eternal Flame had a beginning. We know exactly when the first, temporary, flame was installed at President Kennedy’s grave. We also know who designed and installed the permanent flame and when it was first kindled. We know the dates of the instances when the flame went out, and we know who rebuilt the monument in 2013. We know all these things about the Eternal Flame, but we know none of these about the Perpetual Light.

We must remember that God’s revelation of Himself to us begins with the assumption that God was. In Genesis 1:1 we read,

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

This was the beginning of Creation, but not the beginning of God. God existed before He created the world. He was there when nothing else was.

We see that fact again later in Genesis also. When Abraham met the Priest Melchizedek, neither he, nor we, knew where he came from, yet Abraham gave him a tithe offering. Even later, in the New Testament, the writer of Hebrews compared Jesus to Melchizedek, and even implied that He actually was Melchizedek, who had no earthly beginning. He also said that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

This same fact was revealed when Moses came upon the burning bush, God spoke to him and told him to go and free the Hebrews from slavery in Egypt.  Moses asked God what he should say when the Hebrews asked him who sent Moses to them, and God replied in Exodus 3:14 saying,

God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you.”

The Jewish authorities thought they knew from whence Jesus came. He was a carpenter’s son from Nazarath, a place that had such a bad reputation that Nathanael asked, “Can any good thing come out of Nazareth?” While this was true about Nazareth, humanly, it was not true spiritually because that was where Jesus was raised. Yet, that was not where Jesus was from, as Jesus told Nicodemus in John 3:8,

The wind blows where it pleases, and you hear its sound, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.

So, we see that the Perpetual Light has no beginning.  What we also see from John 3:8, and from John 8:14, is that the Perpetual Light has no ending.

The Perpetual Light Has No Ending:

In our human world, everything has an ending:

• Unless the Lord returns, we will all come to the end of our lives.
• A baseball game ends after nine innings.
• A football game ends after four quarters.
• An opera isn’t over until the fat lady sings, but . . . then it is over.
• Yogi Berra said, “It ain’t over ‘till it’s over.” But then, it’s over.
• A worship service ends with prayer.

Even the Eternal Flame will someday go out. The world has a finite supply of natural gas, and the earth itself will someday be burned up by God. It is also possible that someday, like what happened to the Israelites in Egypt, a generation may come along that has no regard for the personalities of the past. Regardless, like every human life, like every human event, like every human program, and like every human endeavor, the Eternal Flame will be extinguished, permanently. One thing will continue: the Perpetual Light.

It is essential for us that the Light of the World is a Perpetual Light. The fact that the Perpetual Light has no beginning, means that only God can take credit for what He has done, for what He is doing, and for what He will do. And blessedly for us, He invests all the credit He is due from His eternal nature into His relationship with us! Hebrews 13:5-6 says,

Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?

One of the great marketing tools for an expensive product is a lifetime warranty. This gives buyers the confidence to expend a large amount of their hard-earned money on an expensive item because the maker stands by their product and they will be there to help you if needed. Of course, that lifetime warranty is voided when either the buyer dies or the company does, whichever comes first. 

When my dad passed away, we found a small life insurance policy that had been issued when he was a child. That company had gone out of business, and we could not find which company had taken over its accounts. The account certificate was worthless, because no one stood behind it.

Because the Light of the World is the Perpetual Light, we know that He will always stand by His promises to us. We can have confidence in whatever we face, because we know He will be there to stand by what Romans 8:28 tells us, 

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.

Again, the lines of the old hymn still ring true,

For I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto Him against that day! 

So, we see that the Perpetual Light has no beginning and also that He has no ending.  If this all sounds too good to be true, it isn’t, because the Perpetual Light has no doubts.

The Perpetual Light Has No Doubts:

It is interesting to observe in our focal passage that the Pharisees were arguing with Jesus about legal procedure. The Jewish law stated that the facts of an event must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses. They told Jesus, in effect, “You have no witnesses, so you can’t prove anything.” This assertion did not defeat Jesus, however.

Jesus knew how legalistic the Pharisees were, and He trapped them with their own procedures. He told them that He did have two witnesses, saying,

Even in your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is true. I am the one who testifies about myself, and the Father who sent me testifies about me.

If that was all the testimony we had about Jesus, it would be more than enough, but there is more: much, much, more.

First, we have the very Creation itself. Paul told us in Romans 1 that we have sufficient testimony in nature to prove that God exists. Then God’s revelation of Himself through the Word testifies that Jesus was the Agent of Creation.  

John 1:1-5 testifies,

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

Not only do we have the testimony of Creation, but we also have the testimony of the Old Testament prophets.  Scholars have found over three hundred prophecies in the Old Testament that Jesus fulfilled. If the prophets were there at the treasury that day, they, too, would have testified to who Jesus is. 

So, we have the testimony of the Creation and the testimony of the prophets, and we also have the testimony of the miracles that Jesus performed. At least thirty-seven miracles of Jesus are recorded in the Bible, and all of them were witnessed by someone who could testify as well. Who else but God can raise the dead? No one else ever has, and no one else ever will. This is a powerful testimony, but there is even more available to us.

We also have the testimony of the disciples. They walked with Jesus daily, and although they did not understand everything about Him at that time, they, with one voice, testified to the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. Also, don’t forget the hundreds of other followers of Jesus that saw Him after the resurrection, including the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. 

In our world today, we also have the witness of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:16-17 says,

The Spirit himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—if indeed we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.

So, there can be no doubt that Jesus is the Perpetual Light, for, as the old hymn testifies. “He walks with me and talks with me, along life’s narrow way.”  Finally, we also see that the Perpetual Light has no limits.

The Perpetual Light Has No Limits:

When a light in a home or office must be replaced, a key question to ask is what the manufacture’s specifications of the fixture for the light bulb are. If a bulb is used that requires too much current, it will not provide sufficient light, or the fixture might be damaged. On the other hand, if the fixture provides more current than the bulb is designed to handle, a bright, but very temporary light will be provided, just before the bulb self-destructs. When amateur radio operators burn up a device by providing too much current, they call it, “letting out the magic smoke.”  Lights, like all other man-made objects, have inherent limitations. This is not true of the Perpetual Light.

The Perpetual Light reveals everything. Not only does He reveal the truth about God, but He also reveals the truth about us, and about our lives. God knows things about us that we don’t even know ourselves, and in particular, when we don’t know what to do or how to pray, God does.

The Perpetual Light illuminates everything. Not only are all things revealed by the Perpetual Light, all things are explained by Him as well. He allows us to understand who we are, and who He is, and how we can live the abundant life that He has promised us.

The Perpetual Light purifies everything. Natural sunlight is a powerful disinfectant. The crews of sailing ships in the 1700’s and 1800’s would hang their bedding in the rigging so that sunlight would disinfect it. Of course, natural disinfectants are only efficacious for a short time. The Perpetual Light can disinfect our souls and make us suitable for heaven. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 15:53 that the “corruptible body must be clothed with incorruptibility, and this mortal body must be clothed with immortality,” The Perpetual Light allows us to do that.

Finally, the Perpetual Light empowers everything. The reason our world is inhabitable is that it is placed at precisely the right distance from the Sun. Any closer, and we would burn; any further, and we would freeze. The rest of the planets in our solar system suffer from being the wrong distance from the Sun. The Perpetual Light is right here among us today, however, giving us the spiritual power to make everything in our lives work!

Conclusion:

The longest lasting lightbulb in the world is the Centennial Light, which can be found at Fire Station Six in Livermore, CA. It was powered up for the first time in 1901, and it still burns today, 125 years later. This is a remarkable feat, but time has taken its toll. It was designed to be a sixty-watt bulb, but today it only emits about four watts. 

As wonderful as the Centennial Light is, even this light cannot exceed the Perpetual Light. The Perpetual Light has shined for over 2,000 years, and it is as bright today as it ever was. It can light up our lives and transform them, if only we let it in, and don’t shut it out!

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about the Greatest Shepherd

Today we will finish a series of sermons from the Book of Hebrews that I am calling the Greatest of All Time. In this episode, we will see that Jesus is the Greatest Shepherd.

Sheep and shepherds play prominent roles in the story of God’s relationship with His people, for example:

• Abraham, Isaac, and the ram that God provided as a sacrifice.
• Jacob was a shepherd for Laban for 14 years so he could marry Leah and Rachel.
• Moses was a shepherd for his father-in-law after he had to flee Egypt.
• David was the little shepherd boy who later wrote the Shepherd’s Psalm (Psalm 23).
• The shepherds at Christmas were the first to hear of the birth of Jesus.

While we romanticize shepherds, in reality, their task was a dirty, smelly, and lonely one. As Luke tells us, they would “abide in the field” with their charges, almost living like animals themselves.

I once met a paniolo, a Hawaiian cowboy, who told me that people had the wrong idea about such work. He told me, “People don’t realize that cowboys work hard from before sunup to after sundown, and they come home wet, cold, tired, and covered in muck.”

Not only was being a shepherd difficult, but it also involved a great deal of responsibility. They were responsible for feeding, watering, healing, and protecting the sheep, which were valuable commodities. Some shepherds failed at their task, neglecting the sheep, or failing to protect them. The consequences were severe for all concerned.

As we will see in our passage today, Jesus is the Greatest Shepherd. Let’s begin by reading Hebrews 13:20-25,

Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. Brothers and sisters, I urge you to receive this message of exhortation, for I have written to you briefly.  Be aware that our brother Timothy has been released. If he comes soon enough, he will be with me when I see you. Greet all your leaders and all the saints. Those who are from Italy send you greetings. Grace be with you all.

The Greatest Shepherd Purchased His Flock:

For a flock to exist, it must first be established. Creatures, whether they be sheep or goats, or some other herd creature, must be brought together from other places to create a new entity, a new herd. That can happen naturally, but the Hebrews whom the writer was addressing knew about agriculture, and everything about agriculture is intentional. To keep from starving or going bankrupt, or both, farmers must know what works and what doesn’t.

A great example of this in modern farming is the distribution of fertilizer. Farmers know that fertilizer is expensive, and so they do soil tests to discover what type of coverage is needed. Then they use GPS-guided vehicles to put the right amount of fertilizer on the right part of their fields to get the right yield. They don’t want to have to spend a penny more than they need to so that they can get a good yield. A wise farmer watches the cost of their inputs like a hawk because they know a penny saved is a penny earned.

If farming land that you already own is expensive, starting a farm from scratch costs an eye-watering amount of money. Twenty-five years ago, a friend who raised chickens and cows estimated it would cost over $1 million to replicate his machinery, buildings, and animals. Today, I cannot imagine what the price would be. I do know what it cost Jesus to establish His flock, however.

It was so important to Jesus to establish His flock, that He was willing to pay any price. He told a parable that revealed His mindset and His heart in Matthew 13:44-46,

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure, buried in a field, that a man found and reburied. Then in his joy he goes and sells everything he has and buys that field. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one priceless pearl, he went and sold everything he had and bought it.

Jesus sought us out, and then He paid the ultimate price so that we could become part of His flock. As a result, what should our attitude be? Paul told us in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20,

Don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought at a price. So glorify God with your body.

So, Jesus paid it all that we might be the sheep of His pasture.  What does the Greatest Shepherd do with His flock? Let’s read Hebrews 13:7 and 17-19:

Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. As you carefully observe the outcome of their lives, imitate their faith . . . Obey your leaders and submit to them, since they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you. Pray for us, for we are convinced that we have a clear conscience, wanting to conduct ourselves honorably in everything. And I urge you all the more to pray that I may be restored to you very soon.

The Greatest Shepherd Leads His Flock:

One of the key roles of a shepherd is to lead the flock. This is a vital role because without a leader, the flock will get into trouble. The Parable of the Lost Sheep clearly illustrates this.  Without a leader, a flock will go places it should not go and eat things it should not eat. When the sheep have a shepherd, however, they have a leader to prevent bad things from happening to the sheep by leading them towards the things that are good for them. The 23rd Psalm gives us some great examples of how a shepherd should lead the sheep. Psalm 23:1-3 tells us,

The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need. He lets me lie down in green pastures; he leads me beside quiet waters. He renews my life; he leads me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

According to David, a shepherd leads the sheep to green pastures and to still waters. These are the basic elements of life, but when the sheep partake of them, it restores their life. This makes sense, but how do they get there? 

Psalm 23 also tells us that the sheep arrive at what they need by taking the right path. If you have no goal, or no destination, any road will do. But, if you are trying to find what you need, only the road which will take you there will do. Since we know from the Parable of the Lost Sheep that creatures are prone to take the wrong path, who will lead them? The shepherd, of course.

As the Greatest Shepherd, Jesus provides all that we need. He gives us the Bread of Life and the Living Water, and He will lead us into paths of righteousness. He has also called out under-shepherds to help Him with that task. Ephesians 4:10-13 tells us,

The one who descended is also the one who ascended far above all the heavens, to fill all things. And he himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God’s Son, growing into maturity with a stature measured by Christ’s fullness.

So, do the sheep have a role in this process?  Yes! Yes, they do!  Just like children are instructed by God to honor their fathers and mothers, the sheep are instructed to follow their leaders, the ones whom God has appointed as the under-shepherds of the flock. In fact, the writer of Hebrews specifically tells the members of God’s flock to cooperate with their leaders and to avoid discouraging them. Why is that?

No pastor, teacher, or minister exercises their own authority. They only exercise the authority delegated to them by God. In human terms, however, it is easy to ignore or disrespect a local leader, which is discouraging to them. It is so discouraging that some will give-up. That of course, leaves the flock without an under-shepherd, which is a bad thing. The answer to that is to recognize that the true authority is the Greatest Shepherd, who appoints the under-shepherds to lead and benefit the flock.

So, Jesus leads the sheep of His pasture to everything that they need.  What else does the Greatest Shepherd do with His flock? Let’s read Hebrews 13:1-5 and 8-9,

Let brotherly love continue. Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. Marriage is to be honored by all and the marriage bed kept undefiled, because God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterers. Keep your life free from the love of money. Be satisfied with what you have, for he himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you . . . Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Don’t be led astray by various kinds of strange teachings; for it is good for the heart to be established by grace and not by food regulations, since those who observe them have not benefited.

The Greatest Shepherd Instructs His Flock:

In previous episodes, we saw how the writer of Hebrews identified Our Lord as the Greatest Mentor and also as the Greatest Coach. We also saw Him presented as the Greatest Parent, and we know that His disciples considered Him to be their Rabbi. All of these roles involved teaching, and so does being the Greatest Shepherd. Before we consider the details of what He is teaching in the final chapter of Hebrews, we should consider two important points.

First, as a teacher, the Greatest Shepherd realizes that His job is easier if He can help make the members of His flock more self-sufficient. It is easier on parents when their children can walk on their own, and when they can dress themselves, and when they can tie their own shoes. Helping others help themselves is always a good thing.

Second, the Greatest Shepherd has a skill that others don’t have: He can teach unteachable creatures. We all know of the fictional character, Dr. Doolittle, who could talk to the animals, and so it is with the Greatest Shepherd according to John 10:1-5,

Truly I tell you, anyone who doesn’t enter the sheep pen by the gate but climbs in some other way is a thief and a robber. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought all his own outside, he goes ahead of them. The sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will never follow a stranger; instead they will run away from him, because they don’t know the voice of strangers. 

So, the Greatest Shepherd can talk with His sheep, but in our Scripture above we know that the Greatest Shepherd does more than just converse with the members of His flock. He is able to instruct them as well, which shows just how great that He is. So, what does He teach His flock?

First, He taught them to treat one another with kindness and respect. This kind of attitude will prevent many problems from arising within the flock. Ephesians 4:31-32 tells us,

Let all bitterness, anger and wrath, shouting and slander be removed from you, along with all malice. And be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God also forgave you in Christ.

Romans 12:18 also teaches us,

If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Notice that this is the first thing the flock is taught. I believe that this establishes the foundation upon which we can build the other concepts that Greatest Shepherd teaches further down in Chapter 13. Remember, in 1 Corinthians 13, Paul told us that anything we do without love hurts God’s ears like a clanging cymbal!

I recently saw a slogan on a T shirt which is the opposite of the attitude we should take as members of flock. It read: "I’m Not Arguing with You . . . I’m Just Trying To Explain Why I’m Right"

Along with treating each other well, the sheep of God’s flock must also share that love with others. In this case, that includes travelers in need and those in prison. Our outreach should not be limited to people in these situations only, but to all who need the loving touch of God.

A final lesson that the Greatest Shepherd wants His flock to learn is to avoid being ensnared by both the lusts of the flesh and the greed for possessions. The Greatest Shepherd knows that these failings will destroy our lives and they will destroy our testimonies as well. If we follow His guidance in these areas, we will never know the troubles we missed; if we don’t, we will be like children who were told the stove was hot, but who touch it anyway. It is much better to learn these types of lessons vicariously rather than through our mistakes!

The Greatest Shepherd purchased His flock, and He both leads it and instructs it. Let’s close by seeing His Intention for His flock as we consider Hebrews 13: 5b-6 and 20-21,

. . .  He himself has said, I will never leave you or abandon you. Therefore, we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?  . . . Now may the God of peace, who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus—the great Shepherd of the sheep—through the blood of the everlasting covenant, equip you with everything good to do his will, working in us what is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever.  Amen.

The Greatest Shepherd Blesses His Flock:

Although the writer of Hebrews compared our Lord to a human shepherd, and although the writer of Hebrews compared God’s people to a flock, and although the relationship between God and His people is like that of a shepherd to a flock, one huge difference remains. The Greatest Shepherd has a totally different purpose for creating His flock than does a human shepherd.

The reason that a flock of sheep exists is purely economic. The shepherds operate their flock as a business. In the final analysis, the animals are a product, and while some fondness for the animals may develop, in the end they are all sacrificed for the good of the business. Every action taken to care for the flock is designed to increase the bottom line, and if an action does not boost the profits of the flock’s owner it is not taken. 

In God’s economy, however, the flock exists to foster the sheep’s relationship with the Greatest Shepherd. The flock is not a business, but rather it is a ministry. The members of the flock are not a product to be bought or sold, but precious ones who are deeply loved, and for whom God has sacrificed His Precious, Uniquely Begotten Son. Every action taken to care for the flock is designed simply to bless it, and if an action does not boost the relationship of the members of the flock to its owner, it is not taken. 

In the world’s economy, the flock’s purpose is to bless the shepherd. In God’s economy, the flock exists to bless its members.

Conclusion:

We began our study of Hebrews by learning that Jesus is the Greatest Revelation of God. It is comforting to conclude our study by observing that Jesus is the Greatest Shepherd. The writer of Hebrews devoted many words of helping us realize this essential truth of God, one which David also recorded many years before in Psalms 23:1:

The Lord is my shepherd; I have what I need.

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word about the Greatest Parent

Today we will continue in a series of sermons from the Book of Hebrews that I am calling the Greatest of All Time. In this episode, we will see that Jesus is the Greatest Parent.

When I was a child, my oldest sister suffered from a rare condition called scleroderma, and she was homebound for several years before she passed away. So, on most Sundays, my dad would take my middle sister and me to church, and my mom and my oldest sister would stay home. This was decades before streaming services on social media was possible, and my mom and oldest sister watched the television broadcast of our town’s First Baptist Church.

One year on Mother’s Day, my Sunday School teacher led us through making imitation carnation boutonnieres. Some were red, and some were pink, and others, like mine, were white. It turned out pretty well, and I proudly pinned it on before going to join my dad and my sister for our worship service. Of course, I wore it home, because I wanted to display my work to my mother.

To my surprise and chagrin, my mother was horrified when she saw me wearing my imitation white carnation. What she knew, but what none of the rest of us knew that day, was that in the community where we lived, wearing a white carnation on Mother’s Day meant that your mother was deceased! Because she usually stayed home with my oldest sister, she didn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea! Of course, I loved my mother, and I certainly didn’t want to upset her! I had great parents, and I am still grateful to this day for God allowing me to be their son. 

It is also true, however, that no parent is perfect, and some are not good parents at all. I distinctly remember my first Father’s Day as a pastor, because I was told that very morning that a foster child would be present in church, whose father had physically abused, which is why that child was taken from the home. Ours is a world without perfect parents.

The same is true for parents in the Bible. Name any parent in the Bible, and they would have flaws, and some would have no strengths at all. Who, then, is the Greatest Parent? Our Lord and Our God, of course! Let’s begin by reading Hebrews 12:5-11:

And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord's discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by him, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives. Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline-which all receive -then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn't we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. 

Our Lord Understands How To Be A Father:

We know that every man is not a father, but the writer of Hebrews tells us that God is our Father. He tells us that God deals with us as His children, and we know that we are His children because He disciplines us. In God’s economy, every father corrects and guides their children into the proper ways of life.

Of course, Hebrews is not the only place in the Bible that we see God being presented as a father:

• In Psalm 103:13 we see God compared to a father who has compassion on his children. 
• Isaiah 64:8 says that God is our Father, and that He molds our lives the way a potter molds clay. 
• In the Baptism of Jesus, we hear God call out from heaven, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
• When Jesus taught His disciples to pray, His model prayer began with “Our Father . . .”
• In John 14:7-11, we read,

“If you know Me, you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” “Lord,” said Philip, “show us the Father, and that’s enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been among you all this time without your knowing Me, Philip? The one who has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Don’t you believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who lives in Me does His works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me. Otherwise, believe because of the works themselves.”

So, it is clear that God is a Father, and that He is Our Father, and because that, we know that God understands fathers. If that was all God knew, it would be wonderful, but God knows even more.  Let’s read Luke 13:31-35:

At that time some Pharisees came and told Him, “Go, get out of here! Herod wants to kill You!” He said to them, “Go tell that fox, ‘Look! I’m driving out demons and performing healings today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will complete My work.’ Yet I must travel today, tomorrow, and the next day, because it is not possible for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem! Jerusalem, Jerusalem! She who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her. How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! See, your house is abandoned to you. And I tell you, you will not see Me until the time comes when you say, ‘He who comes in the name of the Lord is the blessed One’!”

Our Lord Understands How To Be A Mother:

Before you declare me a “woke” heretic, I simply want to point you to the words of Jesus Himself. He compared Himself to a hen, and a hen is the mother of her chicks.  So how can God act as a mother, as well as being God the Father? The answer is found in the perfect completeness of God. The Bible tells us that God is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent, and omnibenevolent.

In Luke 1:37, the angel Gabriel told Mary that, “nothing is impossible with God.”

2 Corinthians 9:8 tells us,

And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

Colossians 2:9-10 says, 

For the entire fullness of God’s nature dwells bodily in Christ, and you have been filled by Him, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

We also know from other Scriptures that the tabernacle and the temple were earthly analogies of the Heavenly Temple. Therefore, the fact that we, as a species, are both male and female, indicates that both male characteristics and female characteristics are present in God. To illustrate that, all we must do is consider the Creation story.

God created Adam as a male, but God knew that Adam was incomplete. Adam needed someone else to make him complete. I don’t believe that God showed Adam all the animals of the world in the hopes that he would find a suitable companion. I believe He showed Adam all the animals so that Adam would realize that none of them would do. That’s when God created Eve.

So how did God do? Based on the reaction of Adam, He hit the nail right on the head, as we would expect God to do. When Adam saw Eve he proclaimed, “Bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh,” which is an ancient Hebrew phrase which means, “Wow!”

Most men claim not to understand women, but it is obvious that God does. He got the design of women correct, right from the beginning. To me, that indicates that God understands both men and women equally, and that He embedded elements of Himself in both genders of our race.

Notice what Jesus wanted to do in this scenario. I think a male reaction would have been, “I have stood all I can stand, and I can’t stands no more,” and He would have taken action to avenge all the dead prophets. Instead, He wanted to take a different action, and instead of being an avenger, His instinct was to be a protector, by offering up Himself as a shield. I think this is the natural reaction of a mother.

So, Our God understands Fathers, and He understands Mothers. He also understands children. Let’s continue with Proverbs 3:11-12, which is quoted for us in Hebrews 12:

Do not despise the Lord’s instruction, my son, and do not loathe His discipline; for the Lord disciplines the one He loves, just as a father, the son he delights in. 

Our Lord Understands How To Be A Child:

This passage from Proverbs shows that God understands children. After all, Jesus was a child Himself. He was raised by Mary and Joseph, and He was raised with half-brothers and half-sisters. According to Luke 2:40,

The boy grew up and became strong, filled with wisdom, and God’s grace was on Him.

Luke 2:52 also says,

And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and with people.

Even before His incarnation, God understood that children need discipline, and that they need to be shaped and molded into becoming mature human beings. God provided for this by giving children both fathers and mothers, so that they could grow and mature with both a male influence and a female influence in their lives.

Biblical fatherhood is defined less by tips and techniques and more by the qualities of a man, as he, himself, was molded by God His Father. A Biblical father is a man who leads with integrity, loves sacrificially, teaches diligently, disciplines wisely, protects faithfully, encourages consistently, prays earnestly, and reflects the heart of God to his children.

Biblical motherhood is also less about what a mother does, than it is about who she is, again, as shaped by God. A Biblical mother is a woman of faith, wisdom, strength, compassion, and sacrificial love who shapes her children through Godly character and steadfast devotion.

What about children? Do they have any responsibilities in this matter? Of course they do. The Ten Commandments tell them, and all of us as God’s children, to honor our fathers and mothers, which brings with it the promise that our days may be long upon the earth. Proverbs and Hebrews both tell children to listen to their parents’ teaching and to accept their discipline. Finally, in 1st Timothy and Proverbs, children are instructed to care for their families and to be a blessing to them, like how Joseph saved his family from starvation after he became the prime minister of Egypt.

God understands fathers, and mothers, and children. What then does that mean for us today? Now, let’s consider Luke 18:15-17:

People were bringing infants to him so that he might touch them, but when the disciples saw it, they rebuked them. Jesus, however, invited them: “Let the little children come to me, and don’t stop them, because the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it.”

Our Lord Understands How To Help Parents And Children:

From our review of the Scriptures above, it is clear to us that God understands what it means to be a parent and to be a child. How does that help us? In this way: God’s understanding is not just academic facts and insights. No! God uses His understanding in practical ways, to bless us, to guide us, and to help us.

When we come to God as a child, we have the assurance that He knows the challenges we face. It has never been easy to be a parent, but it has never been harder to be a parent than it is today, in the culture of the 21st Century. 

Likewise, it has never been harder to be a child, because our culture pushes children to both grow-up in mannerisms or interests too early, while at the same time delaying true maturity. How many times have I heard someone say, “Adulting is hard.” It certainly is, and our culture pushes children to want the privileges of being adults without accepting the responsibilities thereunto. God understands all these pressures

When we come to God as a child, we also have the assurance that He knows the solutions to the challenges we face. James reminds us that if we lack wisdom, God is eager to impart His wisdom to us. He has done that through the Scriptures, and we have been advised many times to read, to study, to obey, and to put into practice God’s Word. This is the best course of wisdom for us all, but from time-to-time we are confronted with situations that seem to defy Biblical description. What do we do then? We come to God like a child!

Romans 8:26-27 tells us that, when we have no idea what to do, God does,

In the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, because we do not know what to pray for as we should, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because he intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.

When we come to God as a child, we have the assurance that He will help us live with the challenges we face. God is our greatest resource for life’s challenges, but sometimes no practical solutions exist on earth for them. This fact can make life tough, but God’s grace, peace, and mercy that He brings to us as He walks alongside us not only makes those situations bearable, but they can also help us thrive in them.

When we come to God as a child, we have the assurance that He is trustworthy to watch over our children when they leave us. He is with them in the car the first time they drive away on their own after they get their full license. He is with them in their dorm room at college or in their barracks room if they are in the military. He is with them when they take an out-of-town job, and also when they leave the narrow way and take their own, errant, path. When we can’t be with our children, we can know that God will be and that we can trust Him.

So, then, what is the greatest source of help for fathers today? Our Lord, the Greatest Parent!

So, then, what is the greatest source of help for mothers today? Our Lord, the Greatest Parent!

So, then, what is the greatest source of help for children today? Our Lord, the Greatest Parent!

Conclusion:

I started this message by saying how grateful I am for God giving me two wonderful parents. My best friend in high school was not so fortunate. His mother had developed an addiction to prescription medicines, and his dad decided he could not take it anymore. He left his family and moved in with his girlfriend. My friend was left without a father or a mother, and with an out-of-control younger brother. What was my friend to do? When I met him, he was doing the best he could in a very difficult situation.

My Sunday School teacher learned about this situation, and he reached out to my friend. My friend’s dad took the family car, his mother’s license had been revoked, and my friend was too young to drive. My Sunday School teacher made sure my friend had a ride to church. He also shared Christ with my friend, and he became a mentor to him. He was not, and could not be a substitute father, but he introduced my friend to the Greatest Parent, and that made all the difference in my friend’s life.

Psalm 68:5-6 say that God is “a father of the fatherless, and a champion of widows,” and that He “provides homes for those who are deserted.”  I saw God do that in my friend’s life, and I know today, He is still doing it for those who come to Him like the child of God that they are.

Every blesing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word About The Greatest Coach

Today we will continue in a series of sermons from the Book of Hebrews that I am calling the Greatest of All Time. In this episode, we will see that Jesus is the Greatest Coach.

Every successful athlete owes a debt of gratitude to one or more coaches. A great example of that is the relationship between Tiger Woods and Hank Haney. During Haney’s six years as Tiger’s swing coach, he won 31 championships on the Professional Golf Association tour, including 6 major championships. That meant Tiger won 33.3% of the tournaments he played in during that time, and over 25% of the major tournaments he entered. This was the most productive period of Tiger Woods’ career as a professional golfer. Sadly, that relationship did not end well, but there is no denying that Haney was a great coach for Woods in those days.

Of course, Hank Haney is just one example of a famous and impactful coach. Basketball produced John Wooden, Red Auerbach, and Phil Jackson. In football, Nick Saban, Vince Lombardy, and John Madden are household names. Baseball has seen a long line of great managers, including Sparky Anderson, Tony LaRussa, Tommy Lasorda, and Billy Martin. All of these coaches knew how to help their players achieve the most and play to their highest level. They were all humans, of course, and so they were limited, frail, and imperfect. 

As good as all these coaches were, there is someone much better than they. In Chapter 12, the writer of Hebrews points us to the Greatest Coach of All, Jesus Christ. Let’s begin by reading Hebrews 12: 1-2:

Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us lay aside every hindrance and the sin that so easily ensnares us. Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, keeping our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith. For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Our Race:

As we have seen from the beginning of the book, the writer of Hebrews used analogies and word pictures to teach the truths about Jesus that people need to know. Because he was writing to Jewish people, he mostly used illustrations that applied to Jewish culture. In this chapter, however, the writer of Hebrews shifted gears. 

In Chapter 12, instead of using a Jewish-culture-based analogy, he shifted to a Greco-Roman one. He said that we are all running a spiritual race, and that we are all in a stadium surrounded by a huge crowd of spectators. The Greeks, of course, instituted the Olympic Games, and the Romans enjoyed watching chariot racing in the Hippodrome. The language of sports is found throughout this chapter, and it reveals some interesting things to us

First, the writer assumed that we are all in a race. None of us get to opt out; none of us get to say we are injured; none of us get to choose another pastime.  He expected us all to line up at the starting line, ready to race. In particular, we were expected to put aside anything that will hinder us or trip us up, so that we could run our race with endurance. One might say, “I didn’t sign-up for this! I am not interested in being in a race.” This is perfectly understandable, but it is also perfectly beside the point: we are in this race, and we can’t opt-out. 

• Remember, Jesus told us, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” We can’t opt-out of obedience to our Lord. 
• Remember, Jesus told us to, “Go and make disciples of all peoples.” We can’t opt-out of the Great Commission. 
• Remember, Jesus told us that we would be witnesses to Him in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and to the ends of the earth. We can’t opt-out of bearing His likeness to the world. 

No, we are in the race, and all that’s left for us to do is run it. The Good News for us is that we have a coach, the Greatest Coach of All Time. He has been seated in the heavenly press box, and if we keep our eyes on Him, He will help us to run our race with endurance. 

As Ecclesiastes 9:11 tells us:

Again I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, or the battle to the strong, or bread to the wise, or riches to the discerning, or favor to the skillful; rather, time and chance happen to all of them.

Isaiah 4:30-31 also tells us,

Youths may faint and grow weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who trust in the LORD will renew their strength; they will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint.

We are all in a race, but our Coach knows how to win it!  Next let’s read Hebrews 12:3-13:

For consider him who endured such hostility from sinners against himself, so that you won't grow weary and give up. In struggling against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: My son, do not take the Lord's discipline lightly or lose heart when you are reproved by him, for the Lord disciplines the one he loves and punishes every son he receives. Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline? But if you are without discipline-which all receive -then you are illegitimate children and not sons. Furthermore, we had human fathers discipline us, and we respected them. Shouldn't we submit even more to the Father of spirits and live? For they disciplined us for a short time based on what seemed good to them, but he does it for our benefit, so that we can share his holiness. No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your tired hands and weakened knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed instead.

Our Discipline:

Not only does our Coach know how to win the race, He ran an earthly race Himself. He wasn’t like sportscaster Howard Cosell, someone who had great opinions on how to run the race, but who had never run the race himself. In fact. Cosell’s autobiography is entitled I Never Played the Game. This was a double entendre, for while Cosell admitted he was not an athlete, he also wanted to assert his independence from the sports establishment. Cosell once said, "I've been called arrogant, pompous, obnoxious, vain, cruel, verbose, a showoff. And, of course, I am." This is not what our Coach is like at all. In fact, our Coach is like a father who has walked the walk as well as talked the talk.

One thing that our Coach tells us is that we must run our race with discipline. We cannot expect to run a race without practice, and in fact, practice can often be more painful than the race itself. Practicing for a race involves running farther than the distance of the race itself. The idea is to push yourself in practice so that when the day of the race comes, the race is easier. It isn’t easy, but it is easier.

Another way we run our race with discipline is to use the proper technique. Runners who start too fast will fade at the end of the race. Runners who start too slow may never catch the leaders. Runners need to know when to go all out, and when to rest in the middle of the pack. They need to know how to avoid colliding with other runners, and when to stretch out to break the tape.

Runners also need to run with endurance so that they can finish the race. The one thing worse than losing a race is to fail to finish it. In football, one of the advantages of having a strong running game is the punishment it inflicts on your opponents. They may hold you to a few yards at the beginning of the game, but if you can sustain your running game, it will wear them down little-by-little until they are exhausted in the fourth quarter. Then you can dominate them and possibly score at will.

Of course, our race is not a physical one, but a spiritual one. Still, we must run our spiritual race with discipline, we must run it with the proper techniques, and we must run it with endurance. This is how Jesus ran His spiritual race, and this is how He will coach us to run our spiritual race as well.

Our coaching by Jesus may not always be comfortable for us to endure, but if we do, we will run our spiritual race successfully. 

Let’s continue with Hebrews 12:14-24:

Pursue peace with everyone, and holiness-without it no one will see the Lord. Make sure that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no root of bitterness springs up, causing trouble and defiling many. And make sure that there isn't any immoral or irreverent person like Esau, who sold his birthright in exchange for a single meal. For you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, even though he sought it with tears, because he didn't find any opportunity for repentance. For you have not come to what could be touched, to a blazing fire, to darkness, gloom, and storm, to the blast of a trumpet, and the sound of words. Those who heard it begged that not another word be spoken to them, for they could not bear what was commanded: If even an animal touches the mountain, it must be stoned. The appearance was so terrifying that Moses said, I am trembling with fear. Instead, you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God (the heavenly Jerusalem), to myriads of angels, a festive gathering, to the assembly of the firstborn whose names have been written in heaven, to a Judge, who is God of all, to the spirits of righteous people made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood, which says better things than the blood of Abel.

Our Goal:

Many reasons exist for running a race. Some races are so-called “fun runs”, and these are as much social events as they are races. People engage in these to hang around with friends, or even just to get an event t-shirt. Some might run a race to simply test themselves, to see if they can go the distance. Others, of course, run to win, and that becomes their sole purpose. What then, are the goals of our spiritual race?

In this passage, the writer of Hebrews gave us the first example I know about of the “Compliment Sandwich” technique. He gives us a positive reason to run our spiritual race, then a negative reason to run, and then he ends with another positive reason. Let’s break it down that way as well.

First, we run our spiritual race to glorify Christ. As we journey through this world, we seek to grow in peace and holiness, not to bring glory to ourselves, but to reflect God’s grace and peace and mercy to the world. He deserves to receive this honor, and people need to see His work in our lives so that they will be drawn to Him and find His salvation and His sanctification.

Second, we don’t run our race to escape the fires of hell. Baseball great Satchel Paige said about aging, “Don’t look back. Something might be gaining on you.” We don’t have to run scared. While time comes for us all, we don’t run to escape judgment. Jesus set us free from God’s judgment by His sacrifice on the Cross, so we don’t need to earn our salvation by running a good race. Our salvation comes to us by grace through faith, and not by where we place in our spiritual race.

Third, we run our spiritual race to enjoy the blessings we receive when we finish well. The modern Olympic Marathon ends in a large stadium, with the contestants entering and running a lap around the track, enjoying the applause and adulation of all those who have gathered to witness the end of their race. This is a great example of what the writer of Hebrews describes here. One day, all of us will enter the stadium of heaven, and all of those who have gone before us will gather to receive us unto them, and also for us to hear from our Lord, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”

Now, let’s consider Hebrews 12:25-27:

See to it that you do not reject the one who speaks. For if they did not escape when they rejected him who warned them on earth, even less will we if we turn away from him who warns us from heaven. His voice shook the earth at that time, but now he has promised, Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens. This expression, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of what can be shaken-that is, created things-so that what is not shaken might remain.

Our Boundaries:

The writer of Hebrews did not focus on the negatives very often, but the fact is that our spiritual race has rules, just like physical races and games have rules. No one wants to be disqualified by violating a rule that they didn’t know exists. What’s worse, of course, is to violate a rule that you do know exists. Ignorance of a rule is understandable but willfully violating a rule is inexcusable.

Rosie Ruiz cheated during the 1979 New York City Marathon by leaving the course and taking the subway, rejoining the course near the finish line, and posting a very low time. That was bad enough, but she used that fraudulent time to enter the 1980 Boston Marathon, where she cut the course short a second time. Her cheating was discovered, and she was disqualified from both events. Hers is a sad legacy because of her cheating.

The biggest cheater of all, however, was Lance Armstrong, who used performance-enhancing drugs to win seven consecutive Tour de France titles. When his cheating was discovered, not only were those titles revoked, but Armstrong also received a lifetime ban from all cycling races. His name ranks with that of Benedict Arnold for infamy and betrayal of trust.

Just like how our human coaches teach us the mistakes to avoid, so does our Greatest Coach. We ignore His instruction to our own regret.  

Finally, let’s read Hebrews 12:28-29:

Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful. By it, we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.

Our Thankfulness:

When I was a state missionary in Alabama, I worked with a ministry assistant whose son played for the University of Alabama when Gene Stallings was the head football coach. Actually, to be more precise, her son practiced for the Alabama team, because I don’t think he ever took the field in a real game. His contribution was to be the quarterback for the scout team that imitated the offense of the opposing schools. That doesn’t sound very fulfilling, but that experience had a huge impact on her son’s life.

You see, in the role that he fulfilled, he had to opportunity to observe his head coach in an intimate way. He discovered that Gene Stallings was a great coach, but also that he was an even better man. He learned many things about football but even more things about life from that experience. Later, when her son became a successful high football coach who won several state championships at the highest level in the Alabama high school sports league, he always gave respect and credit to his coach, who in many ways made him the coach and man that he was.

Gene Stallings was a great coach, but we have the Greatest Coach. We should recognize all that He has done, is doing, and will do in our lives. And then we should be grateful, and we should sing His praises in every part of our lives. 

Conclusion:

As we think about running our spiritual race, Jesus is our Coach, but Paul is also a great role model. In fact, he told the church at Corinth to imitate him as he imitated Christ. This was what he told Timothy about his own spiritual race in 2 Timothy 4:6-8:

For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time for my departure is close. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  There is reserved for me in the future the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me, but to all those who have loved His appearing.

I think’s Paul’s attitude is the right one for us, also!

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt

A Word About The Greatest Object of Devotion

Today we will continue in a series of sermons from the Book of Hebrews that I am calling the Greatest of All Time. In this episode, we will see that Jesus is the Greatest Object of Devotion.

A very common saying is to “keep the faith.” This sounds like a good and encouraging sentiment, but frankly it is an incomplete thought. It fails to state in what or whom that you are expected to place your faith.

Imagine yourself as a passenger on the Titanic during its maiden voyage. You have placed your faith in the designer of the ship, that it would be designed with safety in mind. You have placed your faith in the builder of the ship, that it would be built with safety in mind.  You have placed your faith in the regulatory bodies governing the ship, that with safety in mind, they would require sufficient lifeboats be provided to all passengers. You have placed your faith in the crew of the ship, that it would be sailed with safety in mind.  You have placed your faith in the officers of the ship, that it would be led with safety in mind.  If someone said to you, “keep the faith,” at 11:30pm on April 14, 1912, you’d have no problem doing so. Just ten minutes later, however, after the ship had hit the iceberg, you would not know who you could trust.

The power of one’s faith is not provided by how fierce or weak it might be. No, the power of our faith is found in its object. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that Jesus is the Greatest Object of Devotion. Let’s begin by reading Hebrews 11:1-6

Now faith is the reality of what is hoped for, the proof of what is not seen. For our ancestors won God’s approval by it. By faith we understand that the universe was created by God’s command, so that what is seen has been made from things that are not visible. By faith Abel offered to God a better sacrifice than Cain did. By faith he was approved as a righteous man, because God approved his gifts, and even though he is dead, he still speaks through his faith. By faith Enoch was taken away so he did not experience death, and he was not to be found because God took him away. For prior to his removal he was approved, since he had pleased God. Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him. 

Faith is Essential:

What we must understand right from the beginning is that many things in the Christian life are necessary, but they are not sufficient to please God. We must read our Bibles, we must be kind to one another, we must share the Good News, and we must support the ministry of the church with our time, our talents, and our tithes.  All those things are good, but as Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 13, we can do all those things and we can still sound like, “a sounding gong or a clanging cymbal” in God’s ear.  Hebrews 11:6 tells us, 

Now without faith it is impossible to please God, for the one who draws near to Him must believe that He exists and rewards those who seek Him.

The one essential factor that pleases God is faith. It is trust in Him and no one else. It is not having a “Plan B” or a “Plan C” or even a “Plan D.”

The Gospels give us some great examples of faith. In Luke 7, the Centurion, whose servant was ill, trusted that Jesus could heal him at a distance. This is certainly “evidence of something not yet seen.” Jesus then proclaimed, “I tell you, I have not found so great a faith even in Israel!”

You might say to me, “That’s great, Brother Otis, but I have been hurt so many times, I just cannot trust anyone.” I understand that. The Good News for someone in such a position is that, if we turn to Jesus, He will help us even with our limited faith.

For example: In Mark 9:22-23, a man with a demon possessed son pleaded for Jesus to help them, saying, “. . . But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.’ Then Jesus said to him, “‘If You can? Everything is possible to the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the boy cried out, “I do believe! Help my unbelief.”  Then Jesus healed His son. The man’s faith was not perfect; it was Jesus who was perfect!

So, again, the key issue is not how strong our faith is. The key issue is how strong the object of our faith is. Any trust we invest in Jesus will never leave us disappointed. The lesson of the Parable of the Talents is, the more we invest our trust in Jesus, the more we will be blessed and the more He will be glorified.

Next let’s read Hebrews 11:7-12

By faith Noah, after he was warned about what was not yet seen and motivated by godly fear, built an ark to deliver his family. By faith he condemned the world and became an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed and went out to a place he was going to receive as an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he stayed as a foreigner in the land of promise, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, coheirs of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah herself, when she was unable to have children, received power to conceive offspring, even though she was past the age, since she[f] considered that the One who had promised was faithful. Therefore from one man—in fact, from one as good as dead—came offspring as numerous as the stars of heaven and as innumerable as the grains of sand by the seashore.

Let’s continue with Hebrews 11:19-31;

By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac. He received the promises and he was offering his unique son, the one it had been said about, Your seed will be traced through Isaac. He considered God to be able even to raise someone from the dead, and as an illustration, he received him back. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph, and he worshiped, leaning on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, as he was nearing the end of his life, mentioned the exodus of the Israelites and gave instructions concerning his bones. By faith, after Moses was born, he was hidden by his parents for three months, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they didn’t fear the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter and chose to suffer with the people of God rather than to enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin. For he considered the reproach because of the Messiah to be greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, since his attention was on the reward. By faith he left Egypt behind, not being afraid of the king’s anger, for Moses persevered as one who sees Him who is invisible. By faith he instituted the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn might not touch the Israelites. By faith they crossed the Red Sea as though they were on dry land. When the Egyptians attempted to do this, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after being encircled by the Israelites for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute received the spies in peace and didn’t perish with those who disobeyed.

Faith is Experiential:

We may have the best intentions at heart, but unless our faith is put into practice can we actually say it is faith? This is like the many laws in our nation that are never enforced. A law might exist, but unless someone enforces it, it has no practical effect. For example:

• In Alabama, it is illegal to play dominoes on Sunday.
• In Gainesville, GA, it is illegal to eat fried chicken, except with your hands.
• In Quitman County, GA, it is illegal for chickens to cross the road.
• In Little Rock, AR, it is illegal for dogs to bark after 6pm.
• In Maine, it is illegal to keep Christmas decorations up after January 14th.
• In Minnesota, it is illegal to cross state lines with a duck atop your head.
• In North Carolina, it is illegal to sing off-key.
• In Utah, the drinking of milk is mandatory.

No one is enforcing these types of silly laws, and so effectively they are not laws. In essence, these acts are only illegal in theory, but not in practice. In the same way, if we say we have faith, but we don’t have the opportunity to exercise it, is it really faith? Only in theory. It just so happens, however, that life provides us many opportunities to exercise our faith.

The writer of Hebrews listed many challenges faced by God’s people throughout the centuries. The variety beggar’s belief! The list includes everything from simply believing that Christ created the universe out of nothing, to making sacrifices and giving offerings to God, to having babies at an advanced age, to following God’s leading into a new homeland, and everything in between.

Again, remember it is not the faith of any of these people in itself that made the difference in their lives. It was the One in whom they placed that faith that made all the difference. 

When God’s people step out on faith in Him, He works in their lives. These steps may be small in the beginning, the way that David began by hitting targets and small game with his sling and smooth stones. Later, after David proved the worth of that simple weapon, he killed a lion, and then he killed a bear, and then he killed Goliath. He had faith in his sling because he had experience with it!

What was theoretical in the beginning for David became reality, and the same is true for us. In the Bible, many people came to Jesus seeking proofs of who He was. The best way for us to that proof is to have faith in Him in our daily lives. As we place our faith in Him, we see His work and we experience His blessing.

Now, let’s consider Hebrews 11:32-40:

And what more can I say? Time is too short for me to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the raging of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, gained strength after being weak, became mighty in battle, and put foreign armies to flight. Women received their dead—they were raised to life again. Some men were tortured, not accepting release, so that they might gain a better resurrection, and others experienced mockings and scourgings, as well as bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawed in two, they died by the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins, in goatskins, destitute, afflicted, and mistreated. The world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and on mountains, hiding in caves and holes in the ground. All these were approved through their faith, but they did not receive what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, so that they would not be made perfect without us.

Faith is Personal:

Sixteen individuals of faith are listed in Hebrews. These include men and women (Sarah and Rahab) and the young and the old. Those who were asked to do great things are included, as well as those who were asked to do smaller things. Those who started new things are there, and those who sustained existing things are there also. Some listed were fathers and mothers who demonstrated their faith for their children, but who had to allow their children to exercise their own faith. Half of these names listed are included in the genealogy of Jesus Himself.

So, why is it important that these individuals are named? First, it reminds us that individual people are important to God. God chose Enoch as an individual to rapture into heaven. God chose Abraham as an individual to create for Him a missionary people to share His love with the world. God chose Moses as an individual to redeem His people out of captivity. Later, Jesus would choose Andrew, Peter, James, and John as individuals to create His church and to take the Gospel to the whole world. Remember the saying, “Everyone’s job is no one’s job?” Faith is exercised individually before it is exercised corporately.

It is also important that all these individuals are named because it reminds us that all their challenges were individual challenges. None of them were the same.  Again, some were big challenges, and some were smaller. Some involved great nations, and some involved family dynamics. Some involved fighting battles and some involved giving birth to children.  We might think that their faith was the same, but that would not be true either. Some had great faith from the start, but, in others, faith had to build over time, and in some, their faith may have faded at the end. 

No! The real common denominator was not these individual situations nor their individual faiths, but the One Individual in whom their faith rested: The God of Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, and Joseph was their God and the God of all the rest. And He is Our God today!

One more thing we must note here before we move on is that not every faithful individual is mentioned here. The writer apologized for this because space and time did not allow him to mention everyone. That is perfectly fine. John, in his Gospel, said that all the books in all the world could not contain all the acts of Christ. Why would we think, then, that the names of all His faithful followers could be contained in a single book? Actually, they are! It is just not a human book, but it is the Lamb’s Book of Life. Revelation 3:5 says that Jesus will never erase any names from that book, and that He will acknowledge every individual in that book to God His Father at the end of time.

Finally, let’s read Hebrews 11:13-16:

These all died in faith without having received the promises, but they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

Faith is Potential:

As a liberal arts major in school several times over, I don’t understand much about physics. One thing that I do know, however, is that every object has energy, either kinetic energy or potential energy. When an object is in motion, it has kinetic energy, like throwing a baseball or firing a rocket. We can see that energy being expended and we can see the effects it has on its surroundings.

What we often forget is that sitting objects have energy also. This is potential energy. Some force exerted energy in placing a boulder on the side of a hill or a piano in the living room of a 10th story apartment. That energy is there even if it isn’t seen. When the conditions are right, like a landslide freeing the boulder, or the strap of a crane breaking under the weight of a piano, then the potential energy is released, and the bolder or the piano will come crashing down. 

God exerts kinetic energy in the lives of every believer as He leads us, and as He corrects us, and as He comforts us. We see Him acting around us and in us and through us. Our God is a God of action, and as we can see throughout the Bible and also as we can see in our daily lives. There is more to God than what we can see, however.

Our God is also a God of potential energy as well. If all we had to look forward to is what we have now, God would be good! But what we have now is not all that God has in store for us! Like the Old Testament saints, we are temporary residents in this place. We are all just passing through, and someday we will enjoy all, and I mean all, of what God has in store for us. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul said we currently “see through a glass, darkly,” but then we will see Him face-to-face!

So often, “we cannot see the forest for the trees!” We certainly cannot understand the entirety of the wonders that God has prepared for us, but we can invest our trust and faith in Him, because unlike people, God always achieves His potential

Conclusion:

As we close, one of the greatest promises in all the Bible is concealed here in Hebrews 11, specifically in verse 16:

But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

We know from the Book of Job that God brags on His people, and I think that is the most amazing thing. The God of the entire universe brags on His people. It’s hard to imagine that, but Hebrews 11 gives us the key to that reality: place whatever faith you have today in God, and He will make great things of it! You will be blessed, God will be glorified, and He will brag to Satan about all of it! Wow! What a God we serve!

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt 

A Word about the Greatest Motivator

Today we will continue in a series of sermons from the Book of Hebrews that I am calling the Greatest of All Time. In this episode, we will see that Jesus is the Greatest Motivator.

It has been said that two types of people populate our world. Some of us wake up in the morning and cheerfully say, “Good morning, Lord!”   The rest of us grudgingly crack open an eye and groan, “Good lord! Its morning!” Jill fell into that last category while Jack fell into the former.

One day, Jack woke up Jill with a cheery, “It’s time to get up and get ready for school!” Jill groaned and said, “I don’t want to go to school today.” Jack asked in a soothing voice, “Sweetheart, what’s wrong? Why don’t you want to go to school?” Jill replied, “I don’t like it. It’s boring, and the kids in my class don’t like me!” “Oh, honey,” Jack replied, “It’s not that bad.” “Yes, it is,” Jill snapped, “I don’t like the teachers, and the principal is a jerk, and the lunches are terrible.” “That may be sweetheart, but you still have to go.” “Why? Why do I have to go?” wailed Jill.  Jack frowned, “Because you’re the teacher!”

From time to time all of us may lack motivation. We may feel as if our “get-up-and-go,” has “gotten up and went” while leaving us behind. This leaves us without drive and without direction. James said that when we are in that state of mind, we are like the waves of the sea, tossed to-and-fro by the winds. James went on to say that such a person was unstable in all their ways. While many people profess to know the secret of motivation, the only one who ever existed who can help with our motivation is Jesus Christ, the Greatest Motivator. Let’s begin with Hebrews 10:19-23

Therefore, brothers, since we have boldness to enter the sanctuary through the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way He has opened for us through the curtain (that is, His flesh), and since we have a great high priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed in pure water. Let us hold on to the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.

Motivation Through Assurance:

Sometimes only bold actions will do. Sometimes, it does not pay to be cautious, but instead, the situation and the people involved require making bold decisions. Many examples of this have occurred in our history.

During the American Revolution, the Continental Army was encamped at Valley Forge. They had been run out of New York City, and they had suffered several defeats at the hands of the British. They were hungry and demoralized and cold, but their commander, General George Washington, decided that his best move was to attack! This was bold to say the least.

On Christmas night, 1776, Washington led his troops in crossing the Delaware River to raid the Hessian troops quartered at Trenton. The Continentals surprised the Hessians at dawn on December 26th, capturing almost all of them, as well as large quantities of greatly needed supplies of food and clothing as well. Not only was this a legendary victory, it greatly improved morale and recruiting also.  Washington’s boldness stemmed somewhat from desperation. He had nothing to lose, but he also had confidence in his plan and his troops

The attack at Trenton was bold, but its audacity was exceeded by that of General Tecumseh Sherman’s march across Georgia during the American Civil War.  Sherman cut loose from his lines of communication and marched from Atlanta to Savannah and then into South Carolina. He could make this move because He was confident in his troops and also because he was confident in his commander, General U.S. Grant. In a letter he told Grant,

I knew that wherever I was, you thought of me, and if I needed you, you would come.

Centuries before Washington or Sherman had ever been born, David was a little shepherd boy who was not afraid to confront the giant Goliath. David could do that because he was confident in his God and in the tools that his God had given him to use. Because of his God-inspired boldness, he snatched victory from the jaws of defeat, and he led the Children of Israel to victory that day. Neither Malachi 3:10, nor the old hymn based on it were written yet, but David knew the principle already,

Trust me, try me, prove me says the Lord of Hosts and see if a blessing, an unmeasured blessing, I will not pour out on thee.

Because of what Jesus has done for us, we can be bold. First, we can be bold in Christ, because we have nothing to lose. No sacrifice we make, no offering we give, no law we follow, can satisfy our sin debt. The only option we have is to attack our spiritual life with boldness based on Christ’s work in our lives.

We also can be bold, because like Sherman, we can trust our commander. As David knew, God will always be there for His people. So, we never face our spiritual, emotional, relational, and every-day-life challenges alone. Jesus always has our back!

We are motivated to live for Christ by the assurance of the salvation and power that He gives to us! Now, let’s read Hebrews 10:24-25,

And let us be concerned about one another in order to promote love and good works, not staying away from our worship meetings, as some habitually do, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Motivation Through Fellowship:

The Bible tells us that Satan is a roaring lion, roaming the world, seeking whom he may devour. If that is the case, then we are his prey, and if we observe nature, we will find that prey animals travel in groups. They find safety in numbers, and the same is true for people in various situations.

In war, being alone is dangerous. When I was in Iraq, helicopters travelled in pairs and a ground convoy had to consist of a minimum of three armored vehicles. In fact, we all took special “isolated personnel” training about what to do if we ever became separated from our unit. While I was there, one Soldier, who was an American citizen originally from Iraq, slipped away to visit family. He is still missing today.

In times of temptation, being alone is dangerous. Jesus was alone when He was tempted; Judas was alone when he betrayed Jesus; Peter was alone when he denied Christ. Yes, it is true that groups of people can make bad choices, but being alone makes it much easier for an individual to give in to temptation.

When confronting the forces of evil, being alone is dangerous. Moses was alone when he killed the Egyptian overseer, but Joshua sent two spies into Jericho. Later, God had all the people march around the city before the walls fell. When Jesus sent out the twelve and the seventy to do ministry, He sent them out two by two. When they returned, He told them that He saw Satan falling because of their service. On all of Paul’s missionary journeys he was accompanied by teammates. When he found himself alone on Mars Hill in Athens, his spirit was troubled, and his witnessing there was ineffective. Ministering with others has a synergy that multiplies our work so that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

When making spiritual decisions, being alone is dangerous. Proverbs 15:22 tells us,

Plans fail when there is no counsel, but with many advisers they succeed.

Matthew 18:20 also counsels us that,

For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there among them.

Just like a hot coal taken from a fire will cool rapidly, often the spiritual motivation of a solo Christian does also. However, a coal which stays within the fire will retain its heat and will even grow hotter. The same is true for the ardor of God’s people when they stay within their congregation!

We are motivated to live for Christ by the fellowship of those saved by grace through faith! Now, let’s read Hebrews 10:26-31,

For if we deliberately sin after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire about to consume the adversaries. If anyone disregards Moses’ law, he dies without mercy, based on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much worse punishment do you think one will deserve who has trampled on the Son of God, regarded as profane the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know the One who has said, Vengeance belongs to Me, I will repay, and again, The Lord will judge His people. It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God!

Motivation Through Warning:

A boss once told me that a leader can motivate people in two ways: with a pat on the back, or a kick farther down. This fellow also said that fake motivation is better than no motivation at all, so I guess that it is also true that negative motivation is better than no motivation at all.

A common saying is that a word to the wise is sufficient, based on Proverbs 9:10 which advises us that,

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

This means we must retain a healthy respect of the consequences of ignoring God’s wisdom. This applies in two ways:

First, those who are not saved risk hell by ignoring God’s law and love. We should remember the case of Herod Agrippa in Acts 12:21-23:

So, on an appointed day, dressed in royal robes and seated on the throne, Herod delivered a public address to them. The assembled people began to shout, “It’s the voice of a god and not of a man!” At once an angel of the Lord struck him because he did not give the glory to God, and he became infected with worms and died.

Second, those who are saved get a taste of hell on earth when they ignore God’s law and love. A great example of that is Ananias and Saphira, who lied to the Apostles and to God about their offering. In this case they both died.

We should not dwell on the negative aspects of motivation excessively, but we must be careful not to develop an attitude of arrogance. Many flight instructors will caution new pilots not to become overconfident after they have earned their first pilot’s license. The record shows that when pilots think they have everything under control, that is when they can make a fatal error. It has been said that the Federal Aviation Administration regulations are written in the blood of arrogant pilots. A healthy fear of planes, the weather, and random chance, makes for a long life for both pilots and their passengers. 

We are motivated to live for Christ by the knowledge that God corrects those who disrespect Him! Next, let’s read Hebrews 10:32-35

Remember the earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings. Sometimes you were publicly exposed to taunts and afflictions, and at other times you were companions of those who were treated that way. For you sympathized with the prisoners and accepted with joy the confiscation of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves have a better and enduring possession. So don’t throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.

Motivation Through Overcoming:

Few things build motivation like overcoming our challenges and our limitations.  The Continental Army experienced this after the victory at Trenton. As the saying goes, “nothing succeeds like success.”

The first time we experience challenges, however, we are like “a calf looking at a new gate.” We don’t know what we are looking at or what to do or where to turn. As we have success in our walk with God, however, we gain confidence in Him and in His work in our lives.

The story of Ruth in the Bible is well known, and it is a truly amazing one for her faithfulness to Her mother-in-law Naomi. Often overlooked is the fact that when Naomi lost her husband and her sons, she asked people to start calling her Mara, which meant bitter. However, as she and Ruth walked with God, He brought to her the ideas and concepts that led to Boaz becoming Ruth’s kinsman-redeemer. God brought her and Ruth a long way during their journey with Him.

We also see God’s people overcoming challenges in the New Testament. In James 1:2-4 the pastor of the Jerusalem church taught his congregation to,

Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

We can see this taking place throughout the New Testament: The Apostles were vastly more mature after the Cross and after Pentecost than before. Paul after being blinded on the Damascus Road became an asset to God’s people instead of a threat to them. John Mark failed during the First Missionary Journey, but later he became a useful member of Paul’s team and he also was chosen by God to write one of the four Gospels.  Apollos was a great orator, but he did not fully understand the Gospel. But, after being confronted and instructed by Priscilla and Aquilla, he became a great champion of the faith.  Timothy and Titus were both young in the faith when they were appointed by Paul to become church pastors, and both had their struggles. Paul had to write to both of them to encourage and correct and motivate them, but as they overcame challenge after challenge, they also became heroes of the faith.

Paul, himself was not a stranger to overcoming troubles, and what he learned from his experiences he shared with us in Romans 8:28,

We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God: those who are called according to His purpose.

We are motivated to live for Christ every time we see Him work out an impossible situation in our lives for our Good! Finally, let’s read Hebrews 10:36-39,

For you need endurance, so that after you have done God’s will, you may receive what was promised.  For yet in a very little while, the Coming One will come and not delay. But My righteous one will live by faith; and if he draws back, I have no pleasure in him. But we are not those who draw back and are destroyed, but those who have faith and obtain life.

Motivation Through Hope:

The writer of Hebrews was quoting the prophets Isaiah and Habakkuk in these verses. Both of these men lived many years before the Advent of Christ, but they were still motivated to serve God. They were motivated by their hope that they placed in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They had not yet seen the Messiah, but they were confident He would come for the consolation of Israel.

They knew God, the way that David knew his sling and trusted it. Among modern warriors there is a saying, “Beware the man who has only one gun.” This is because he knows it well and he is proficient with it. Isaiah and Habakkuk had only one God and they knew the hope that they placed in Him would never be disappointed. They could easily have sung the old hymn that proclaims,

For I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day!

For believers today, not only can we read God’s Word, and not only can we observe God’s acts, but we also have His Spirit in our lives, motivating us from within. We are motivated to live for Christ because of the hope that He has embedded in our hearts!

Conclusion:

When it came time to sell our house in Alabama and move to Illinois, we were what the real estate community calls, motivated sellers. At the same time, we had a motivated agent who found us some motivated buyers. God brought us all together so we could agree on a deal that worked for everyone involved. 

What motivates us today to walk closely with our Lord? If nothing above works in our lives, surely God’s love for us will. As John 3:16 reminds us,

For God loved the world in this way: He gave His One and Only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.

Really, when all is said and done, that is more than enough to motivate us to live for Him!

Every blessing,

Dr. Otis Corbitt