Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.
Hebrews 11:35-12:4
These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
I remember hearing my parents say something like, “If it’s not one thing, it’s another.” Now as an adult, I understand. With all the responsibilities of “adulting” it’s difficult to just relax. And often, we make the mistake of thinking, now that I’m a Christian, I can just sit back and relax and enjoy life. Actually, faith doesn’t spare us from pain. Learning to live by faith often involves pain. Earth is not our resting place. Some of God’s promises will be fulfilled in eternity. Today, we’ll examine three enemies out to destroy us. The world, the flesh and the devil. And then we’ll look at how we can overcome them all.