The story of King David is a success story in the Bible, but so is the story of Job. In Revelation’s prophecy, Philadelphia’s much celebrated church remained unreproved, but so did the lesser celebrated and afflicted church of Smyrna.

Hebrews’ “Heroes of Faith” chapter 11 is a well-known chapter in the Bible containing some very familiar and often quoted verses (vs. 1, 6, 10, 25). The events described in this chapter are rich with epic historical successes of familiar Bible characters as they overcame the challenges set before them with faith-produced victory and prosperity at every turn. Who hasn’t quoted verse 1? “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen”. Then there’s Abel whose “more excellent sacrifice” still testifies, and God-pleasing Enoch who avoiding death was translated. Faithful and fearful Noah is mentioned along with generous contributions to the patriarchs Abraham and Moses and their faithful deeds. The chapter is an inspiring and enjoyable, easy-flowing read right up to mid-verse 35 where it then seemingly makes a 90-degree turn with this statement, “…and others were tortured…”, uhhh…, say again? The remainder of the chapter lists those otherwise unnamed and devoutly faithful who obtained their rewards of faith by way of the gravel road so-to-speak. This article is written to serve as a reminder that there is indeed that gravel road and its travelers, having long thrown off the vanity of temporal worldly ambition, are pursuing “…a better resurrection” (Heb. 11:13-16).

Heb 11:32-39 “And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: (33) Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, (34) Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. (35) Women received their dead raised to life again: AND OTHERS were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: (36) AND OTHERS had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: (37) They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented; (38) (Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. (39) And these all, having obtained a good report through faith…”

The message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is fundamentally a positive message, in fact it is the ultimate positive message. The tone of the scriptures regarding the Christian life and its eternal promise is so wonderfully positive that it requires a God-gifted tongue to even approach properly describing its promise, wonder and glory. However, Jesus, viciously beaten, bloodied, and mocked, as he hung nailed to his cross just moments before the murderous ravages upon his innocent – but then made guilty – body succumbed to death, queried “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” There on the cross as Jesus drew his last breath, the most wicked and horrific event to have ever occurred in all of time happened as the most wonderful and amazing thing to have occurred in all of time happened in one singular dichotomous event. Jesus sits on the throne of glory via the cruel cross.

It is interesting to note that the very first person mentioned in the Bible to be later celebrated for his faith (Abel) was murdered consequent to the practice of that same faith (Gen. 4: 1-8). The book of Hebrews’ account of Abel is immediately followed by mention of Enoch, who in his faith “was translated that he should not see death” (Heb.11: 4-5). They both possessed the same celebrated faith in the same God resulting in two very different (opposite) outcomes, at least as far as temporal conditions are concerned. Same faith, same God, different outcomes. And if one were given the option, certainly he would rather be “translated that he should not see death” than to die or be tortured at the hands of an evil doer, but not always (v. 35 above).

The Gospel is a success story for Jesus and his church, however contrary to what the Americanized Christio-religious (shallow, carnal “cultural Christianity”) say, this success (as so clearly demonstrated and taught by the Lord and those who followed him) is not of a worldly or temporally focused nature but is eternal. The definition of success in God’s kingdom as the scriptures define it, bears little to no resemblance to the temporal, materialistic, covetous, wealth-building, ego-rewarding, carnality-engaging definition of worldly success, in fact it is the opposite. God’s only beloved Son and the savior of all mankind, in the throes of a horrifically violent, bloody and unjust death, and voicing a cry of hopelessness (Mk. 15:34) is no less a picture of God’s great success than is an empty tomb and an enthroned Christ.

What then does success in God look like for the true child of God, and when will it finally be determined? Success in God looks like a coronation with an Incorruptible crown (ICor. 9: 25), of Righteousness (IITim. 4: 8), of Life (Jam. 1:12), of Glory (IPet. 5: 4), placed upon the heads of those faithful saints and overcomers (Matt. 24:13, Rev. 2: 7, 11, 17, 26, 3: 5, 12, 21, 21:7) who have been made worthy by God’s grace via the atoning blood of his only begotten son Jesus, when their Savior, Lord, and King (this same Jesus) returns as promised to establish His 1000-year Kingdom in the earth (Rev 22:12).

Boasting himself a little (IICor. 11:16) in an attempt to reorient the Corinthian church as to just who their real daddy was (ICor. 4:15), Paul is provoked into touting the great accomplishments of his successful international ministry; Paul said; “…in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. (24) Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. (25) Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; (26) In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; (27) In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (28) Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. (29) Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? (30) If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. (31) The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. (32) In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: (33) And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands. IICor. 11:23-33. Denominal Pentecostals would’ve called Paul a “complainer”, but what is missing here? There’s no mention of big houses, big cars (🐫’s), big businesses, designer clothing, big bank accounts, frequent flyer miles, expensive vacations, hob-knobbing with big-shots, etc. – those accoutrements of worldly success. And but for his power in God, Paul was probably not someone who we would call Mr. Popular (“…his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible IICor. 10:10), etc. There’s not even any mention here of his legitimate ministerial successes. Persecuted Paul had an “and others” element to his otherwise powerful and fruitful life; “For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. (10) We are fools for Christ’s sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. (11) Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; (12) And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: (13) Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day.” ICor. 4: 9-13 (Also ref. Col. 1:24). And to top it all off, Christian church tradition supported by early church writers suggest that Paul was beheaded for the faith in Rome.

Yet, I presume that the One who ultimately determines man’s steps and calling (Psa. 37:23, Pro. 16:9, Jer. 10:23) also determines his station in life – his measure of grace, faith, and gifting – and whether his road is paved or rocky. Other than the fleeting temporal prosperity (wealth, station, fame, ease), of which the true Christian’s sentiment is reflected in the song which says, “…you can take this world’s wealth and riches, I don’t need earth’ s fame…”, or affliction, of which the scripture says, “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;” IICor. 4:17, there is no difference in justification between the named heroes of faith and the “and others”, “…these all, having obtained a good report through faith,” Heb. 11:39, as no flesh, whether elevated or afflicted, whether flower or grass, will glory in his presence (ICor. 1:29). This is to say that, just as those saints who prosper in worldly or temporal gain, ease, or success, of whatever form that may be, should not discount or judge those less prosperous (Jam. 2: 1-5), so those “and others” who know the special secret graces and comfort that can only be realized consequent to their affliction, while they await their “better resurrection”, should not discount those who are not “so used”.

GS