“The great rollcall”
By Rev. Michael Stonhouse
Meditation – Monday, January 29, 2024
Hebrews 11: 1-12 (Forward, p. 92) CEV p. 1267
One of the things that always impressed me at my seminary, Wycliffe College in Toronto, was the incredible ‘rollcall’ of past students who’d answered God’s call to missionary service—as portrayed on large display panels in the college hallways. This was made even more telling, even more compelling, when some of the names were familiar, as with students or faculty that I’d known.
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews has its own billboard, its own rollcall of sorts. And what were these people lauded for? For their incredible feats or accomplishments? No, not in the least! No, they were held up as great examples for one thing, and one thing only—for their faith.
And what is notable about pretty well all of them is that they had faith in something they did not yet see. Abel and Enoch never did see, in this early life, the result of their faith in God. And Noah evidenced his faith by building an ark, despite the jeers and catcalls of his neighbours and despite the fact he could not even imagine a rain on the scale that God was promising. And Abraham and Sarah showed forth their faith by believing that they’d have a son, Isaac, even though they were well-advanced in years and in declining health and vigor.
In each case, they were believing in God and in His promises when as yet there was still no visible, still no concrete, evidence to back it up. And is this not the challenge that faces each of us as well: we are promised God’s presence and help and intervention, and at times there seems precious little evidence of any of it. And so, we are challenged to imitate those folks in the great rollcall of faith: to remain steadfast, to remain loyal and true to God, whether we ‘happen’ to see any immediate results or not. This is our ever-present challenge, and with God’s help, we can do it. Thanks be to God.
Forward notes: “By faith Noah, warned by God about events as yet unseen, respected the warning and built an ark to save his household; by this he condemned the world and became an heir to the righteousness that is in accordance with faith” (verse 7).
“Did you know the Latin root of the word respect is specere or to look? Respect literally means to look again. Noah looked at God’s warning of events yet unseen. He was able to look again and see something real and meaningful and compelling—and then he acted. He re-spected God’s words.
“Isn’t that part of our invitation in faith? To look again at what we think we see and see something new, something powerful, something completely different, and then to act in partner with God? If we ‘look again,’ we can weave into our sight new hope, dignity, and faith—a new way of seeing! Think of it as putting o God-goggles: Imagine what we can see and then do with God when we strive to look at the world, our lives, and others through the lens of God-goggles!”
Moving Forward: “Forget the rose-coloured glasses. Slip on some God-goggles!”