The Personal Guarantee From God

When God fulfills His promises to us, He never disappoints!

A Special Message from Fr. Barnabas: Only 8 more days left to participate in the End of the Year Campaign and we are so close to our goal! While you're thinking about it, go to FaithEncouraged.org, click the Donate button, and make this gift today, or click the picture below! Thanks.

"I Guarantee It." So many promises from so many advertisements, and so many disappointments when I discovered that maybe that "guarantee" wasn't all it was cracked up to be! Let's face it: we humans can be an untrustworthy bunch at times. This is especially true when it's a parent that lets us down.

There are times when I'm counseling others that I come across a broken soul that tells me their story of parental mistakes and wounds. It's always deep-seated. It's always traumatic. And it's always filled with consequences. And this is especially true when it is a father who drops the ball. No wonder those people grow up to doubt a God we all call "Father." But that tragic pain stands in the way of our trusting that God the Father will be faithful to His promise to love us unconditionally. This is why I always tell people, "Father is not a title." "Father" is a confession, a promise, a guarantee.

Look at our lesson today in Hebrews 7:18-25:

Brethren, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God. And it was not without an oath. Those who formerly became priests took their office without an oath, but this one was addressed with an oath, "The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, 'Thou art a priest for ever.'" This makes Jesus the surety of a better covenant. The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office; but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues for ever. Consequently he is able for all time to save those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

What a passage! And what a message. Don't forget our Hebrews preacher is trying to get across to these Christians who were Jews that what they have as followers of the Messiah Jesus is better than what they left. In a day when making such a statement would be considered politically incorrect or culturally insensitive, the scriptures pull no such punches. You see, what is at stake is much more profound than temporary feelings. The claims of the Christian scriptures insist that Jesus Christ is the complete fulfillment of all the promises God made to Abraham, the Father of the Faithful in the First Testament. So, to pretend otherwise is to mischaracterize the message of the Christian Faith. Our preacher wants to prove to these wavering believers that going back is going backward, and leaving what is better for what is already past! As Paul tells the Romans "He is not a Jew who is a Jew outwardly. He is a Jew who is a Jew inwardly." (Romans 2:28-29)

Look at what he writes.

First, the former commandment (the Torah Law) is "set aside." But why is it set aside? Because it's wrong? Because it's bad? No! The former is set aside because it is weak and, now that Christ has come and fulfilled the Law, useless. And it's weak and useless BECAUSE it didn't do what needed to be done. It didn't make people perfect. Now it's important to remember the word "perfect" here doesn't mean "without flaw" but "complete"-"mature"-"grown up." The Law was designed to prove to stubborn humanity that, no matter how hard we tried, we simply couldn't overcome mortality by ourselves. The Law was to be our "schoolmaster" to teach us how badly we needed a Savior. And the Law did this completely.

Next, the new covenant is better. And why is that? Because this new covenant does what the old covenant could not: it (or rather He) could make humanity perfect because He is perfect and He is fully human as well as being fully God! The old system of sacrifices and laws only served to wake us up to our need for a Messiah, a Savior. But that was only halfway home. The Better Covenant brought to us by Jesus Christ provides a better Hope. He does what the old system could never do. He heals our relationship with the Father and reconnects us with Life Himself. And that, dearest, solves our real problem-mortality. We were made for life, not death!

St. Anastasia of Rome was a beautiful woman born to pious parents toward the end of the 3rd century. She was married to a man named Publius Patricius, who was a prodigal from the Faith and impious. St. Anastasia was widowed early in her marriage, and then she went about her secret ministry to the Christians who were in jail or beaten for the Faith. She brought them what they needed in prison, bound their wounds, and greatly encouraged them to remain faithful to Christ. She was so very gifted in the Spirit that she healed many people from poisoning. So much so, that she was named the "Deliverer from Potions." Of course, this meant many people talked about how kind and holy St. Athanasia was, to the point her fame caught the attention of the pagan Romans who arrested her, tortured her, and finally set her on fire to burn for her faith. She witnessed for the Lord in the year 290 AD.

Today, do you have hope? Do you know what your hope rests upon? Our precious and life-creating Faith solves your deepest weakness and destroys death so that you will reach the destiny you were made for in the first place. Living a Truly Normal Orthodox Christian Life is always the better hope and that ain't just a movie. It's the real thing!!

P.S. O Lord Jesus, unto You Your lamb does cry with a great voice: O my Bridegroom, You I love; and seeking You, I now contest, and with Your baptism am crucified and buried. I suffer for Your sake, that I may reign with You; for Your sake I die, that I may live in You: accept me offered out of longing to You as a spotless sacrifice. Lord, save our souls through her intercessions since You are great in mercy.

A Special Message from Fr. Barnabas: 2024 means we are invited to renew the focused practice of our Faith. But before we get to 2024, we here at Faith Encouraged are preparing to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity, and we need your help to start 2024 strong! Will you help us before the year is done? Your gift of $5, $10, $20, or $50 is your way of saying "We support your work, Fr. Barnabas!" Click the picture below and make that gift today. Thank you.