The God Who Doesn't Keep Score

In Teen Church this month we're heading into Hebrews 11. A great way to start the year, as we hold up the diamond of faith and examine it through the lenses of the Old Testament saints. I'm looking forward to studying and preaching it, and i'm hoping it whets the appetite of some of our teenagers to read more deeply in the Old Testament.

Hebrews 11 has been described as faiths hall of fame, as the Westminster Abbey of faith. And who can disagree, who doesn't well up inside when they read about men of whom the world was not worhty, men who lived in caves and were sawn in two for their faith. The KJV rendering of verses 36-38 are among some of the most powerful words in the English language.

As providence would have it, i've also been reading through Genesis recently. Meeting daily with men like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. With Judah and with Joseph. With the men who, according to verse 2, had faith and received a reward. But what an odd collection fo men they were. Abraham is commended twice in Hebrews 11 for his faith, and rightly so. He left everything to follow God's call, he bound his beloved son and held the knife over his chest. And yet, Abraham was the man who twice lied about the identity of his wife to save his own skin, and spent most of his life worshiping the moon.

We're reminded of Moses, and his preference to be mistreated with the people of God than enjoy the riches of Egypt. And yet, this is the same Moses who killed a man, ran away, argued with God, and didn't make it to the Promised Land. As i read Genesis one thing stuck out to me again and again, the patriarchs are hardly posters boys of 'good clean Christian living.' Neither's David, or Solomon.

So what are we to make of this? Is Hebrews 11 just a whitewash, a history told by the winning side? No, Hebrews 11 reminds us that God doesn't keep score, He doesn't keep count. We don't turn in our homework for Him to make checkmarks and ugly red lines on. He looks at us, sees our faith in His Son, and is pleased. He is pleased when He sees a reflection of Himself in us, no matter how dim. He's pleased when He sees us forsaking all other gods and following Him. He's pleased when we come to the end of ourselves, and cry out in faith through His Son. He's pleased as we do this, as He was when the men and women of Hebrews 11 did.

I think in some ways Hebrews 11 functions for us as Genesis did for the wandering Hebrews. As they were about the cross the Jordan, Moses reminded them of their father's failings, but of God's faithfulness. Don't rely on yourselves Hebrews, rely on the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. As we face trials and temptations, Hebrews 11 reminds us that God doesn't keep score, but He sees our faith and is pleased.