God’s ‘Red Carpet’ Is Different from Ours

Now that we’ve entered a new year, soon broadcasts of the annual award shows will begin – the Academy Awards (the Oscars), the Emmys, Tonys, the CMAs, ACMs, PDQs and XYZs. In fact, the Golden Globes is being aired this week. Are you shaking with anticipation? Think what you will of these showcases, some of which have devolved into platforms for political posturing. But they all share one thing in common: The red carpet.

Prior to each event celebrities and entertainment notables, wearing lavish and sometimes garish attire from renowned designers, parade across literal red carpets, reveling in the attention they receive. Representatives from the entertainment media – some of them celebs in their own right – fawn over these lovely and handsome folks, eager to capture their excitement over what another celebratory evening might hold. These are the crème de la crème, the “Who’s Who” of the silver and TV screens, stage, concert halls and arenas.

 

Watching them strut in all their glamour and sartorial splendor, we could easily conclude this is the ultimate in success. We can almost imagine these A-list characters wearing signs on their backs reading, “Betcha wanna be me!”

 

Did you know God has His own “red carpet”? He does, but with decidedly very different qualifications. We find numerous examples in both the Old and New Testaments, most of whom wouldn’t have been voted “most likely to succeed” in their high school yearbooks, let alone candidates for ‘starring roles’ in the Scriptures. For a closeup look at God’s version of the red carpet, we can turn to the 11^thchapter of Hebrews, often referred to as the “Hall of Faith. 

 

It starts with a couple of logical choices, Abel, Adam and Eve’s second son who offered a more faithful sacrifice to God than his vindictive, murderous brother, Cain. There’s also another of the first couple’s sons, Enoch, who “was commended as one who pleased God” (Hebrews 11:5) – to the degree that the Lord took him straight to heaven without experiencing death. 

 

But then we find a parade of virtual nobodies. Noah was happily minding his own business when God commanded him to construct a vessel to protect himself and his family from the global flood that would consume the rest of mankind. We’re told, “when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear [he] built an ark to save his family…and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith” (Hebrews 11:7).

 

Next comes Abraham, who obediently left a comfortable lifestyle for an unfamiliar place of the Lord’s choosing because “he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10). However, in the process he twice lied about his wife Sarah, claiming she was his sister because he feared foreign kings would kill him because of her beauty. So, he was hardly Mr. Perfect. Nevertheless, “Abe” was singled out because, “without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6).

 

The listing goes on to include Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, all of whom had checkered backstories but again were accorded special recognition solely because of their faith. Or as theologians would call it, “sola fide.” They’re followed by Moses, who flexed his faith muscles countless times while carrying out the dubious assignment of leading to headstrong, prone-to-wander Israelites. Not that he didn’t get sideways with God himself at times, but the Lord wasn’t looking for perfection, just genuine faith.

 

Perhaps most surprising in this ‘role call’ of biblical characters is a prostitute named Rahab. What?! She was the person who shielded the Israelite advance men when they came to scope out Jericho. You know, the city whose walls came tumbling down? “By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient” (Hebrews 11:31).

 

Rahab is one of three women singled out in the earthly genealogy of Jesus Christ found in Matthew 1. Turns out she was the mother of Boaz, who married Ruth and became the father of Obed, who became the father of Jesse, whose son David would become king of Israel. She was David’s great-great-grandma.

 

Others cited in Hebrews 11 include flawed but faith-filled people like Gideon, Samson, David, Samuel, the prophets, mighty warriors and martyrs not identified by name. What’s most important is these were individuals very much like us, commended not because they graced the magazine covers and walked crimson carpets but because they had hearts for God and were willing to be used by Him.

 

Their lives – and deaths – were not in vain. Because as the chapter concludes, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised. God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Hebrews 11:39).

 

In our most dubious, faith-wavering moments, we can find encouragement from these men and women in the Hebrews “hall of faith.” If they could persevere, remaining true to the Lord until the end, there’s no reason we can’t do so as well. 

We might never stroll one of Hollywood’s red carpets, but as the verse above promises, “God has planned something better for us.” He’s preparing a red carpet for us that we can’t even imagine. And it’s not because of our acting, singing, or performing abilities. Anything we’ve done, for that matter. Solely because of our faith in the Lord and what He’s done for us. 

Finding the Connection Between Common Sense and Faith

Have you noticed how common sense seems so uncommon these days? Things considered obvious for so long being kicked to the curb, replaced by ideas that reasonable people would never have imagined? Today’s ‘common sense’ seems easily confused with nonsense.

 

Our world prizes rational thinking. Except when it doesn’t. We believe we can solve conundrums and resolve problems simply by exercising our minds. And it bothers us when our reasoning powers fall short. But let’s face it: Some things don’t just stretch the boundaries of our imaginations – they surpass them altogether. 

 

We discuss things like eternity, light years, evolution and/or creation, even philosophical matters such as love, purpose and the meaning of life, thinking we know what we’re talking about. Cognitive capacities, however, have their limits. Even AI – artificial intelligence – can’t answer our most profound questions.

 

Where does that leave us? At some point we must admit faith is necessary, even though we might prefer not to do so. Everyone exercises faith in some way. Even atheists need to hang onto faith, if only trusting that everything observed in creation all around us came about without a Creator. This despite science acknowledging that everything must have a cause. Along with the wisdom from “The Sound of Music” that, “Nothing comes from nothing. Nothing ever could.”

 

The fear many people have is that yielding to faith means dispensing with common sense. Good news: The suspicion that faith and common sense are antagonists, forcing us to choose one or the other, is unfounded. They can – and should – coexist quite peacefully.

 

I’ve mentioned my favorite devotional writer, Oswald Chambers. Over the years his insights in My Utmost for His Highest have blessed me more times than I could count. Concerning how common sense and faith relate, he said:

            “Faith in active opposition to common sense is mistaken enthusiasm and narrow-mindedness, and common sense in opposition to faith demonstrates a mistaken reliance on reason as the basis for truth. The life of faith brings the two of these into the proper relationship.

            “Common sense and faith are as different from each other as the natural life is from the spiritual and as impulsiveness is from inspiration. Northing that Jesus Christ ever said is common sense, but is revelation sense, and is complete, whereas common sense falls short. Yet faith must be tested and tried before it becomes real in your life.”

 

There’s a lot to chew on there, but we can think of many everyday examples where common sense and faith intersect. For instance, a man and woman standing at an altar declare, “I do,” fully convinced that the other is ‘The One.’ There’s no guarantee, however, that this commitment will last “as long as we both shall live.” Common sense, utilized during the dating phase of their relationship, must merge with faith as they pledge to spend their lives together.

 

An employer invests a lot of time, energy and money screening potential hires for a critical position in the company. A final decision is made based on due diligence and common sense, but again there aren’t any guarantees the individual chosen will meet or even exceed expectations. It’s also a step of faith – by both.

 

The Bible speaks about this at length. In the New Testament book of James the apostle addresses it, without specifically using the term ‘common sense.’ He writes, “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?... In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:14-17). 

 

James goes on to elaborate, but his point is clear: If a person has genuine faith, it should be evident by their actions, how they live. If a husband tells his bride “I love you” on their wedding day, but never says it again, does nothing to demonstrate his love, and proceeds to violate the marriage covenant repeatedly, common sense tells us that he really doesn’t love his wife.

 

For the follower of Jesus Christ, faith and common sense must work in partnership. We see this illustrated in Hebrews 11, termed by many God’s “hall of faith.” One of the people mentioned is Noah, who was instructed by the Lord to build a massive ark to save his family and selected animals from a coming flood. 

 

Until that time it had not rained on the earth, so Noah probably had a hard time even conceiving what such a flood would be like. It required faith for him to trust that God’s command was reasonable. Common sense came in because he had the necessary skills and expertise to build the ark. But would Noah act in faith and do as he was told? Hebrews 11:7 answers that question: “By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.”

 

This chapter in Hebrews lists many others whose common sense merged with faith, such as Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, even a prostitute named Rahab. They did what they believed God had told them to do; when they reached the limits of their common sense, they continued in faith.

 

The same applies for each of us as we strive to walk faithfully with the Lord. We go through each day using common sense (hopefully), doing things that seem right and reasonable. The time comes, however, when He presents an opportunity that would require stepping outside our comfort zone. ‘Are you sure, Lord?’ ‘Oh, I couldn’t do that!’

 

God has brought me to this point numerous times. Based on what I knew, sometimes common sense was advising me not to obey – but faith said that I should. I’m thankful for the many times when by faith I said yes, when ‘common sense’ was insisting that I say no. If I hadn't, I definitely wouldn't be where I am today, doing what He's enabled me to do.

Is the Lord asking you to take a step of faith now in some significant way when your common sense is insisting that you shouldn’t? “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). 

Are Your Role Models Still Living?

Most of us have role models, people we greatly respect and even would like to emulate. After watching the Olympics, athletes like Michael Phelps, Katie Ledecky and Simone Biles no doubt gained many thousands of new, ardent admirers. We might have someone at work, a very accomplished veteran, whose abilities and traits we’d like to see in our own lives.

Students often have favorite teachers, people who made learning not just fun, but truly an adventure. “I want to be like her (or him),” is a common reaction when we’re in the presence of an inspirational educator. As a writer, I’ve had a number of authors who in one way or another served as role models as I forged my own journalistic and literary career.

But have you ever considered that perhaps the very best role models are…no longer living? I started pondering this recently after hearing someone on the radio state emphatically, “All of my role models are dead.”

Think about it: How many times have we read sad reports about some supposedly upstanding citizen – an entertainer, athlete, politician, business leader, even a pastor or ministry leader – a revered role model for many, who was exposed for scandalous moral or ethical behavior? What happens when those we place on a pedestal tragically fall from grace, so to speak? We become disheartened, disillusioned, even devastated. How could those we held in such high esteem stoop so low?

So perhaps it’s a good idea for our role models to be from a different place and time. A local pastor for years has led a weekly discussion group called the Dead Theologians Society, in which men and women review the writings of Christian leaders from centuries past. Part of the reasoning is that eternal truth never has an expiration date. But there’s also no danger that sage spiritual minds of the past – like Augustine, Charles H. Spurgeon, St. Francis of Assisi, Andrew Murray, Martin Luther, A.W. Tozer, Teresa of Avila, Oswald Chambers, C.S. Lewis, Corrie ten Boom, John Bunyan, and many others – will become the subject of disgraceful headlines in tomorrow’s newspaper, on the Internet, or the nightly news.

This is one reason Hebrews 11 is such an important chapter in the Bible. Here we find men and women of faith – starting with Abel and continuing with other Old Testament patriarchs like Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Samson, David, Samuel and the prophets. As Hebrews 11:13 states, “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.”

Later the chapter talks about individuals “who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised…” (verse 33). But it also points out that others, “were tortured and refused to be released…. Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison…stoned; they were sawed in two, hey were put to death by the sword…” (Hebrews 11:35-37). Could we face that and remain true to what we believe?

The chapter concludes by stating, “These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised” (Hebrews 11:39). In other words, they still were looking for the promised Messiah, clinging to the hope of redemption and life everlasting. And they didn’t have a local Christian bookstore, or a handy Internet website to go to for encouragement. All they had was faith, which the first verse of Hebrews 11 declares to be, “the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.”

One of the hardest things in life is finishing well, whether it’s pursuing a college education, competing in an athletic event, forging a career, building a healthy marriage and family, or walking with God. It’s too easy, too tempting, to quit or take a detour along the way.

Many of our personal role models have started well. But how will they finish? Will we become disappointed to see them decide it’s not worth finishing their marathon? Will we discover their talk was a lot larger than their walk?

So maybe the guy was right – it’s best to have role models that are dead. Especially godly ones. We can study how they lived and try to discover how they succeeded in finishing well. Much like the apostle Paul, who wrote, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith” (2 Timothy 4:7-8).

Headed for the Hall?

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.

As Jesus promised, the “induction ceremony” will include the words, “Well done, good and faithful servant!” (Matthew 25:21-23). That will definitely be one ceremony worth attending.