During the month of January, I spent four days at a Dakota Nation Winterfest celebration at Brandon, Manitoba, Canada. This event is one of the largest Indigenous sport and cultural events of its kind in Canada.
During this weekend event, everyone must pass through a long hallway to get to the hockey rinks and other venues. As we walked through the hallway, I noticed a long display of framed pictures of individuals who played on the Brandon Wheat Kings hockey team over various years. The Wheat Kings hold the Canadian Hockey League record for most points (125) in a single season, setting the mark in 1978-79.
As I paused before the various pictures and taking in the notable stats for the players concerning their achievements, my mind wandered to another hall of fame that that isn't made up of hockey players, but rather a list of men and women who were determined to follow God.
Hebrews Chapter 11 contains the names of individuals who lived out their faith in very difficult circumstances. For instance: Abel, who is mentioned in verse four, had a brother who wasn't very happy with Him and Abel was killed for obeying God. He is the first martyr in the Bible.
Joseph, who is mentioned in verse 22, was sold by his hateful brothers as a slave and lived a very lonely and difficult life until God vindicated him many years later. When the difficult times came for these men and women, they didn't turn back or give up, but rather they pressed forward in their faith for the glory of God.
I wonder if someone is reading this article today who hasn't entered a relationship with God through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ because of of fear. Maybe you are afraid of what your family or friends will think of you if you become a Christian. Maybe you think you could never live a life that is pleasing to God because your faith isn't strong enough.
Let me tell you that there will be people who look down on you and that there will be many times when you will fail God!
The Christian life isn't about what others think of you or even about your failures. It's not about you at all! It's about the Lord Jesus, who wants to walk with you, just as He walked with these men and women who put their faith in Him.
The Lord didn't fail them! He will not fail you!
He is waiting for you to take the first step and to trust Him as the One who can forgive you, heal you, and who promises to live in you and make you into a new person (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Those who honor God, He will honor (1Samuel 2:30) .The Bible tells us not to be afraid of people, but rather to honor and live for the very One who gives us our breath and who can take it away (Matthew 10:28).
Read through Hebrews 11 and consider what these men and women were willing to risk so that God would be honored in their lives. Remember, it's not how much faith you have but, rather, who your faith is in.
If you live and die without coming to know the Lord Jesus as your Savior, you will miss the whole purpose that God put you on this earth! The Lord Jesus said, "This is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God and Jesus Christ who you have sent" (John 17:3).
Seek God first and live a life of faith in His Word, and He will prove His faithfulness to you over and over again. This life of faith with God, which lasts forever, is far more satisfying than having a picture of your face in a glass frame that will hang on an earthly wall for a very little bit of time.
Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life" (John 5:24).
What will it be for you? The "Hall of Fame" or the "Hall of Faith?" Choose this day whom you will serve-as for me and my house we will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:14).
Becky Kew is a good news messenger to First Nation Prairie Provinces and encourager to First Nation believers Beckykew@outlook.com
