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Living for What Lives on…
Hebrews 11:13, 16 'All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth… Instead, they were longing for a better country-- a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.' (NIV)
 William and Catherine Booth defied religious convention to the take the gospel in both word and deed to the poor. They saved thousands of lives and birthed the Salvation Army. Yet, they often felt alone in their quest. William Tyndale only had one ambition: to provide the common people of England with a Bible they could read for themselves, in their own tongue. He spent most of his adult life in this work, but had to live like a fugitive on the run from both church and secular authorities. His was the first English New Testament and the language he used changed forever the way English was spoken. He, too, often felt alone in his quest. David Livingstone spent years away from family and friends, on the other side of the world. He opened up the heart of the 'dark continent', Africa, to civilization, education and exploration. In all his years, he had only one creal convert to Christ, but when he died more people lined the streets of London for his funeral than for any other funeral outside the royal family. He often felt alone in his quest. The lives of these and thousands of other heroes of faith, remind us that the price for having a stake in the future is often displacement and discomfort in the present. Like the heroes of Heb 11, these people died without having seen the total fulfilment of all they'd been working for. They too were 'looking for a distant city that was not their own...' That's what faith people do: they work for a better future, they live for something that will live on when they die.
Prayer: 'Lord, help me to do what these heroes of faith did – to live for more than narrow self interest, or the concerns of today alone. I know that I can make choices today that will dramatically change tomorrow – for myself and for others.'
© 2003-2004 Mal Fletcher
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Hi Mal, you recently preached at our Sunday service at Rhema Bible Church in Joburg, South Africa. You preached God's word with such simplicity and I left church feeling really inspired. It's been a blessing going through the articles on this site.
Elaine, South Africa
Passion: I think it flew out the window the moment political correctnes reared its ugly head! So much in the world today is bland and lacking in intensity but I don't want to calm down!
Ann, Australia
Thank you very much for your informative site as well as EDGES TV.
Chantel, United Kingdom
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