Visiting the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, Tenn. is probably the closest I'll ever get to being in a hall of fame. |
How would you feel if one day you were nominated for a
prestigious hall of fame? You pick – which one would it be? Just imagine being
selected to the hall of your choice.
Annually, stellar athletes are selected for their respective
halls of fame: college and pro football, baseball, basketball, hockey, even
NASCAR. In the entertainment world there’s the Country Music Hall of Fame, the
Rock ‘n Roll Hall of Fame, the Hollywood Walk of Fame and others. There’s even
a National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.
Plaques of Country Music Hall of Fame members are displayed in a room featuring the words of the classic gospel song, "Will the Circle Be Unbroken." |
Many colleges have created halls of fame to honor
distinguished athletes, students and alumni, and some high schools do the same.
I was a hall monitor once at my elementary school – does that count? I’m
guessing somewhere there’s a grocery clerks’ hall of fame. “There was never
anyone that could stock shelves or sack groceries like ole Jimmy!”
Think about being accomplished enough, famous enough in some
area of expertise, to be inducted in a hall of fame of some sort. Is music your passion? Wouldn’t it be cool being named for playing an instrument
of choice? Or perhaps you’re an educator – what if you were selected to a
national teachers’ hall of fame?
Most of us, of course, will never receive hall of fame
recognition signifying we’re among the “who’s who” of a certain profession or
endeavor. Long ago I realized how could I possibly dream of getting into a
“Who’s Who” when I’m so firmly entrenched in “who’s he?” But there is one “hall
of fame” that’s open to all of us.
In the Bible, Hebrews 11 presents an interesting roster of
men and women singled out for God’s hall of fame. Some people prefer the term,
“hall of faith.” There are the biblical superstars, like Noah, Abraham, Isaac
and Jacob (later renamed Israel), Moses, Samson and David. But there are other less-celebrated
“inductees,” like Abel, Enoch – “taken
from this life, so that he did not experience death” (Hebrews 11:5) – Jephthah,
Barak (not Obama), Samuel and other prophets.
One of the surprise entries is the lone woman cited by name,
Rahab, a prostitute! She trustingly assisted the Israelite spies as they
inspected the doomed city of Jericho. If Rahab could make this “hall,” there’s
hope for the rest of us.
Many others are referred to, although not listed by name.
What it does tell about them is a unified tale of unwavering faith. “”Others were tortured and refused to be
released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. Some faced jeers and
flogging, while still others were chained and put into prison. They were
stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword…the world
was not worthy of them” (Hebrews 11:35-38). That’s not a job description I’d be excited about!
But the passage also makes clear
they weren’t singled out for their heroics, but for one common quality: “These were all commended for their faith” (Hebrews
11:39).
Whether confronted with violent persecution for being
followers of Christ, as is the case in some parts of the world, including the Middle
East, Africa and China, or simply striving to pursue the life Jesus calls us to
on an everyday basis, we’re all candidates for God’s hall of fame.
No comments:
Post a Comment