Page 26 - June 2025 - Truth & Tidings

to be “counted worthy to suffer shame for blessings is contingent upon our patient
his name” (Act 5:41). Like Moses, they endurance and submission to God’s per-
esteemed “the reproach of Christ greater fect will, in hope, through the exercise of
riches” than material wealth and were faith here and now (Heb 3:6; 4:1; 6:11-12;
looking to their inheritance in heaven 10:23-25).
(Heb 11:26; cf. 1Pe 1:4). To safeguard them Note also that the promise of reward
from dishonouring the Lord, they should is inextricably linked with the sure and
constantly remember their first love, Christ, imminent return of the Lord Jesus Christ:
and how they stood for Him and His “Yet a little while, and the coming one
people in former days. will come and will not delay” (10:37 ESV).
Remember That Endurance Will Be Here, Habakkuk 2:3 (Septuagint) is cited
Rewarded in a Future Day (10:35-37) to remind the Hebrews that what God
Therefore, they must not throw away the promised will most certainly come, in His
fearless confidence (or boldness) they had time, despite the persecution they were suf-
when they first trusted Christ. Such bold- fering. The Lord’s second coming will fulfil
ness enabled them to take a courageous the promise of God and bring a just reward
stand for Him and endure the resulting to “every man according as his work shall
persecution. They are to hold fast that be” (Rev 22:12).
“boldness and the rejoicing of hope unto Remember That God Expects the
the end” (Heb 3:6 YLT) because it results Righteous to Live by Faith Every Day
in great “recompense of reward” (11:26). (10:38-39)
For this reason, they “have need of pa- The writer further cites Habakkuk 2:4
tience” (or endurance, 10:36; 12:1). They are (Septuagint) and applies it as follows: in
to persevere with the same endurance they light of the imminent return of Christ, “my
had in the past (v32). Why? “After” they righteous one shall live by faith” (10:38
had “done the will of God,” they would ESV). We gladly confess that one becomes
“receive the promise.” This was the “hope “the just” “by faith” (Rom 1:17; Gal 3:11).
unto the end” (3:6). How is it developed? But how many of us regress, forgetting
“Tribulation works endurance; and endur- that we must regulate our lives by faith
ance, experience; and experience, hope” every day? The warning against recanting
(Rom 5:3-4 JND; cf. Jas 1:2-4). While “the from living by faith is solemn: “If he [my
promise” is not explicitly defined, note that righteous one] shrinks back [from living by
it connects the “recompense of reward” faith], my soul has no pleasure in him” (v38
(v35) with “he that shall come” (v37). The ESV; cf. 1Co 10:5; Heb 3:12,19; 4:6,11; 11:6).
word “promise” occurs 18 times in the let- “But,” encourages the writer, “we [em-
ter and many of those references relate to phatic] are not of those who shrink back
the Millennial kingdom. A day is coming to destruction, but of those who have faith
when Christ will establish His kingdom, to the preserving of the soul” (v39 NASB).
as was promised to the patriarchs. Our While “destruction” (Greek noun apoleia)
“reward,” therefore, is bound up with “the can mean eternal destruction (e.g., Php
promise” of personal inheritance, honour, 3:19; 2Th 2:3; 2Pe 3:7), it can also mean
rest, rule and responsibility in the coming “waste” (Mar 14:4). Similarly, its cognate
Millennial kingdom. Moreover, the extent verb (apollumi) can mean “to lose” (e.g.,
to which we will receive such kingdom Mat 16:25; Mar 9:41; Luk 15:4; 2Jn 8). Our
Continued on p. 190
186 TRUTH kTidings June 2025