Worthiness, Worthlessness

Hebrews 11:35 - 38
35 ... Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison. 37They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38the world was not worthy of them. They
wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

I was totally amazed to see something over here in part of Hebrews. Hebrews chapter 11 speaks much about living by faith. I noticed something that speaks very similar to our daily lives. Perhaps it's only mine life? Many times when the faith rises up in my heart in regards to a miracle coming, the devil is always up to his nonsense to prevent us from receiving the miracles that God had already prepared for us. Sometimes, it can be very minor and there are times that it can get real serious.

I remember having listened to pastor telling us that if the problem is big, the miracle is big too. At the end of the day, the devil still cannot prevail. We may fail once, fail twice, thrice, four times, five times, but we can never fail forever becoz Jesus lives. Since He lives, His promises never die. This world is fallen after what Adam did in the Garden. And, the dominion of the earth went to the devil. After Jesus rose from the dead, He took back the dominion. However, the earth is still a fallen earth coz Jesus said that there'll be a new heaven and earth.

Now, in Hebrews, there are exactly 21 times that faith was mentioned. 21 is the number of miracle (this is what I juz got to know abt) and a miracle happened in each one of them. Why so specific? Since 21 is the number of miracle, that means each time when our hearts were stirred up with faith (faith comes by hearing), we can expect a sure miracle to come. In each faith of God, there's a miracle.

Next, because of this, the devil is always trying his best to stop the stirring of faith in our hearts and hence, some of us ended up with disappointments, tribulations, persecution, etc.. That's why in verse 35 where it says ... Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. What is a better resurrection? The greek word in this verse for resurrection is Anastasis in which Thayer's definition is "to cause to rise, raise up". In his definition, it is not specifically mentioned to rise up from the dead in terms of physical and spiritual. It is also being used in the context where something is going to happen or rather rise up. Right now, we thank God that we do not suffer to this extent though there are still persecutions, tribulations, trials, etc, going on as long as we are in this world.

BUT!! We can rejoice. Why? The world now is the opposite of God's ways. And why do Christians have to face all these? One verse tells it all and it's in verse 38 -- the world was not worthy of them. What does this mean??? The world was not worthy of them?? In the earlier verses, people suffered for the sake of Christ and they were persecuted, killed, etc. Why? Coz the world was not worthy of them! The world is lower than them and the world cannot contain the believers.

As Jesus said, we are in this world but we are not of this world. Ok, ok.. still don't see the point? I make an analogy. Imagine yourself feeling unworthy, lousy and always thinking that you are useless, etc. What will be your outward reaction towards your surrounding, like people, things, work, etc? Frustrations? Anger? Disappointments? Sadness? And don't even want to exist and wishing that the person or thing or surrounding just disappear from your very eyes?

Same thing.. The world is a fallen world and because we are believers in Christ and we have gained a better resurrection through Christ (not only eternal life but also life on earth), the world is unable to contain us. The world is actually unworthy OF us and not us being unworthy OF the world!! Amen? Hallelujah!! We have victories in Christ. PRAISE JESUS!!

Now, this is something that really thrown me off and I truly thank the Holy Spirit for explaining this to me. Cool! :D Thank you Jesus!! Praise the Lord!!