Worthy of Honor (Friday Devotional)

 

Indeed, by faith our ancestors received approval. By faith we understand that the worlds were prepared by the word of God, so that what is seen was made from things that are not visible.

- Hebrews 11:2-3

Washington. Franklin. Jefferson. Lincoln.

Over the last few days, Lindsey and I have been introducing our kids to names like these as we’ve made our way through Washington D.C., Philadelphia, and Baltimore. They’ve seen the massive monuments on the National Mall, iconic artifacts like the Liberty Bell, and historic locations from Independence Hall to Fort McHenry (and eaten Philly cheesesteaks. Lots of Philly cheesesteaks.)

All week long, we’ve been surrounded by our nation’s history, inspired by its founding fathers and greatest heroes. As we’ve read about these historic figures, doing our best to pass their legacy along to our children, we’ve been prompted to consider what makes these national icons special. From Hamilton’s brilliance to Roosevelt’s courage to King’s conviction, there are all sorts of traits that make America’s heroes memorable.

But when the anonymous writer of Hebrews ran through an accounting of the Bible’s heroes, it’s instructive that there was one characteristic they singled out: faith. From Abel to Abraham, from the judges to the prophets, faith in God was the defining trait that turned ordinary people into biblical heroes. Rahab was crafty, but her faith was why she was remembered by future generations. Moses was righteous, but his faith is what set him apart from other leaders. David was a mighty warrior, a talented musician, and a great king, but it was his faith that made him a man after God’s own heart.

As we think today about what makes someone worthy of honor, perhaps we ought to pay more attention to faith. It’s easy to praise a person’s intelligence, their strength, and their prosperity—after all, those are all traits the world rewards. But for believers, more value should be placed in their trust in the Lord, the strength of their relationship with him, and to how closely they pattern their lives after his.

Faith in God, not innate impressiveness, is the marker of a godly hero. Maybe it’s time—indeed, past time—that we pay more attention to that characteristic.