Consider the “Words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” Ecclesiastes 1:9 “The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun.” Simply put, everything is repeated. Regardless of the advancements in technology, medicine, and literature, what has been will be again. All the pressures of this life have been lived before us. All the challenges of family, marriage, church, finances, etc. have been seen and felt long before we arrived. Whatever “road” you travel has been long since paved by the hardships and triumphs of the saints, most of which we will never know. There is nothing new under the sun.
Hebrews 12:1 “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Another version says, “since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses, run…” Our trials have already been experienced by the saints. That Cloud can work for us or against us. Paul wrote; 1 Corinthians 10:13 “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.”
There is a Cloud of witnesses that speak of overcoming sickness, death, and depression. That Cloud sings songs of praise all the while resisting temptations. They endured hard trials, gave out of want, worshiped with sacrifice, and served without recognition or reward. The witnesses that came before are sitting in the stands to encourage us to be overcomers. However, they also can speak against us. When we complain that no one understands us or that we are going through something unique, they raise their collective hands to say, “We’ve been there and we made it through.”
The scripture was written for our admonition to give guidance and direction. There is hope and reassurance in the pages of this holy book. The Word of the Master is in the Book and because of this truth; I’m looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of my faith.
Pastor Jeffrey Harpole