Fully Believe

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses … Hebrews 12:1

These witnesses are the people listed in the previous chapter, people like Abel, Enoch, Abraham and Sarah, Moses and Rahab. Witnesses give testimony, like witnesses in court. They say what has happened, and testify to the truth of events. But these witnesses are all dead, and their testimony is not in their words, but in their lives. Like a Last Will and Testament, their lives have been recorded in the Bible for us to read.

All these followers of God lived believing God’s promises, but they did not see the fullness of the propmise; they all died while still looking forward to the promise of the Messiah. And now we have that promise. Christ has made the sacrifice, and has risen from the dead. But even we have not seen the fullness of the promise, because Christ has not yet returned; and when he does it will be as King and as Lord. Upon his return we will see the dead arise and put on immortal perfect bodies.

So we are encouraged to be patient and joyful in our time on earth. We are still beset with troubles, but we have already seen more of the fulfilled promise than Moses or Joseph or David. Having seen the promises given to these witnesses come to pass, we should fully believe the promises God has given us.