Precious Memories...the Wayfarer 5/28/16

Precious Memories
5/28/16

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

(Hebrews 12:1)

Paul is referred to all the prophets, the forefathers that came before him and the fact that faith was the only acceptable venue to God from the beginning of time. He detailed a list of many in the 11^th chapter that through their faith gave hope to the generations before Christ Jesus.

The 11^th chapter preceded it:

Hebrews 11King James Version (KJV)

11 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

² For by it the elders obtained a good report.

³ Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

⁴ By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

⁵ By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

⁶ But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

⁷ By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.

⁸ By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

⁹ By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise:

¹⁰ For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

¹¹ Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised.

¹² Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable.

¹³ These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

¹⁴ For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.

¹⁵ And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned.

¹⁶ But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

¹⁷ By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,

¹⁸ Of whom it was said, That in Isaac shall thy seed be called:

¹⁹ Accounting that God was able to raise him up, even from the dead; from whence also he received him in a figure.

²⁰ By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.

²¹ By faith Jacob, when he was a dying, blessed both the sons of Joseph; and worshipped, leaning upon the top of his staff.

²² By faith Joseph, when he died, made mention of the departing of the children of Israel; and gave commandment concerning his bones.

²³ By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment.

²⁴ By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter;

²⁵ Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season;

²⁶ Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.

²⁷ By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible.

²⁸ Through faith he kept the passover, and the sprinkling of blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch them.

²⁹ By faith they passed through the Red sea as by dry land: which the Egyptians assaying to do were drowned.

³⁰ By faith the walls of Jericho fell down, after they were compassed about seven days.

³¹ By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace.

³² And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets:

³³ Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.

³⁴ Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.

³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection:

³⁶ And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

³⁷ They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

³⁸ (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.

³⁹ And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

⁴⁰ God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.

These were and are very precious memories recorded for all time, not only for the Jewish people to whom Paul wrote these words, but to all who have been grafted into the body of believers through the coming of Christ Jesus, making possible that same promise of obtaining that same report though faith in Him alone.

Today’s title song used was written by JBF Wright, and is another with which I grew up hearing regularly in the assemblages of my youth. It remains a favorite, speaking still to my heart of the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not yet seen.

Precious Memories

Precious memories, unseen angels,
Sent from somewhere to my soul;

How they linger, ever near me,
And the sacred past unfold.

Precious memories, how they linger

How they ever flood my soul.

In the stillness of the midnight,

Precious sacred scenes unfold.

Precious father, loving mother,

Fly across the lonely years;

And old home-scenes of my childhood,

In fond memory appears.

Precious memories, how they linger

How they ever flood my soul.

In the stillness of the midnight,

Precious sacred scenes unfold.

In the stillness of the midnight,

Echoes from the past I hear;
Old time singing, gladness bringing,
From that lovely land somewhere.

Precious memories, how they linger

How they ever flood my soul.

In the stillness of the midnight,

Precious sacred scenes unfold.

As I travel on life's pathway,

Know now what the years may hold;

As I ponder, hope grows fonder,

Precious memories flood my soul.

Precious memories, how they linger

How they ever flood my soul.

In the stillness of the midnight,

Precious sacred scenes unfold.

Each of us has his own individual race to run and a unique course over which it must be run. Each of us will be assisted along the way by our own cloud of witnesses in addition to those enumerated by Paul. Each of us will be hindered along the way by others who, in their own way, become a part of that cloud showing us what we need to avoid in our own lives by the way that they live theirs.

For me, they are many, beginning with my grandparents, and their unshakeable faith in God, His Son, Jesus, and in the resurrection yet to come, for all of us. They are further enforced by all the preachers that I have heard over the years who truly preached the gospel and showed it in their lives through the compassion for others, charity, and unique character of each that stood head and shoulders above others who had the same title, but failed in the execution of the responsibility that came with it.

It must include the mentors and teachers encountered both in church and in public school, that were unafraid of having to be politically correct that taught me the truth of the Bible.

 It is a long list, so I shall not attempt to enumerate them all. I will, however, mention a few just so that you have an idea of how much you may influence lives without even knowing it.

For example there was my grandmother who never failed to feed a stranger in need, even though she had little herself.

There was my mother who taught me to read at an early age using “little golden books”, stories about the bible that later led to a hunger for its comfort.

There was a Sunday school teacher named Llewyn Black who taught me the importance of visiting any and all to invite them to join us for services of worship

. There was Brother Jesse Barrett who first loaned me many books on faith and doctrine, and later gave them to me when I became a preacher.

There Was Rev Kenneth Anderson who taught me world History and gave me a love of learning for all history. One particular statement that stuck was, “Man learns nothing from history, except that man learns nothing from history.” This was a restatement of a passage found in Ecclesiastes’ third chapter; I keep learning that same lesson daily!

 Another was Brother Wayne Hammond who baptized me. He taught me humility in a way that no one else ever has. He refused to use the title of Reverend, stating that, “Reverend means good, and none but God himself is good.”

Another was Rev. Ralph Helenthal who first issued my license to preach the gospel.

There are so many, teachers, and others throughout my life that have had an incredible effect not only on the way I think, but indeed on the way I choose to live!

I find that this list grows constantly, as I meet others of faith who strengthen my own and have no fear of the consequences of speaking Jesus name in a manner that honors Him. Each time I enter the little church I pastor, I see and hear those from the past who gave so much of their time and efforts toward its success, and assisted in so many ways with my ministry not only in past years, but in the here and now, that I face in their absence. I know that each of them is in the arms of our Lord and though I miss them dearly, I find joy and solace in their arrival there knowing they await my own arrival. 

There are others who had many negative effects on my life, and I have no need to include them here, except to say that we may be misled by those around us if not careful to stay constant in our faith.

Paul detailed much of Jewish history in that 11^th chapter, but continued on in Hebrews 12 verse 2 to let us know how important it is for us to be conscious of what our faith is in.

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.

 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin.

And ye have forgotten the exhortation which speaketh unto you as unto children. ‘MY SON, DESPISE NOT THOU THE CHASTENING OF THE LORD, NOR FAINT WHEN THOU ART REBUKED OF HIM.

  FOR WHOM THE LORD LOVETH, HE CHASTENETH, AND SCOURGETH EVERY SON WHOM HE RECEIVETH.

 If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.”

(Hebrews 12: 2-8)

We are to look to Jesus for the faith we need to find daily. It is only through Him that we may acquire the faith we need. When faced with problems in this life, it is far too easy to slip into the poor pitiful “Why ME’s”. 

Instead of this attitude we need to remember what Jesus endured for all of us, and what great sacrifice indeed that he made for us!

 If we think that God is punishing us, then we need to ask ourselves why, and correct whatever needs correction.

 If we are sons and daughters of God through Christ Jesus, we will be chastised from time to time when we wander too far from His plan for us.

Keeping this in mind, look to Jesus as the author and finisher of our faith, and look for the treasures He promised us. Blessings come with no strings attached, but as I have stated earlier, whoever receives the most, must in return give the most.

We too are a part of the cloud of witnesses, that exists for others, and that witness must also remain in their memory as a testimony to the delivery of the promise that was guaranteed by the sacrifice, resurrection, eternal life and ongoing mediation for us by the Only Begotten Son of God, Christ Jesus.

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: 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.

Amen, and Amen

the Wayfarer