Carol's Faith

February 15, 2013

For Carol

Hebrews 11

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.  

By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.

By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did.  By faith he was commended as a righteous man, when God spoke well of his offerings, and by faith he still speaks, even though he is dead.

By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away.  For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God.  And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family.  By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.  By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.  For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God....

….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.  People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.  If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.  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....

...By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions about his bones...

...By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the people had marched around them for seven days.

By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.

And what more shall I say?  I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies.  Women received back their dead, raised to life again.  Others were tortured and refused to be released so that they might gain a better resurrection..

Others died; they never saw the promises here...

…The world was not worthy of them.  They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.  God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

We are all a part of this magnificent story of faith.  A story that Carol lived out as an example for us.  A story that I can only tell a fraction of...

By faith, Carol married and remained faithful to one man for forty two years.  And by faith she loved him deeply.

By faith, she sought and found homes for orphans and made important those who were neglected.  By faith, she honored those that others had written off.  By faith, Carol welcomed those who were poor, weak, lonely, shy, broken, and unlikable.  She made time for these people, even when the time was all wrong.  By faith she loved us, and we were lovely because she loved us.

By faith, Carol put others first; especially her family.  She refused to give up on her sons, daughters, grandchildren, nieces and nephews, sisters, in-laws, friends, or the love of her life.  She would not, could not give up on us.

By faith, Carol lived; even as she was dying.  She filled every day with life.  She went to ball games, played on the farm, planted seeds, planned meals, celebrated holidays and birthdays, and danced for little things in between.  She told stories, listened to hurts, stayed up too late, shopped too long, laughed too loud, and blessed us all with her wisdom.

In John 11:25, Jesus says “I am the ressurrection and the life.  He who believes in me will live, even though he dies.”

By faith Carol lived, even though she died, and she is commended for her faith.

Hebrews 12

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.  Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.