Introduction: Last week we began a series entitled “Stretching our Faith.” All of us need help in stretching and strengthening our faith. I read about a little boy who was riding a bus home from Sunday school. He was very proud of a card he had received, which had a picture and a caption that read: “Have Faith in God.” Then to his dismay the card slipped from his hand and fluttered out the window. “Stop the bus!” he cried. “I’ve lost my ‘faith in God!’” The driver pulled the bus to a stop, and as the lad climbed out and went to retrieve his card, one of the adult riders smiled and made a comment about the innocence of youth. A more perceptive adult observed, “All of us would be better off if we were that concerned about our faith." (Contributed to Sermon Central by John Beehler)
I hope you are concerned about your faith.
Last Sunday we began looking at Hebrews 11. We looked at Hebrews 11:1-3. Today I want you to look with me at verse 4. The man described in this verse is Abel. Abel was one of the heroes of faith. His example should stretch our faith. In what way can Abel stretch our faith? Abel stretches my faith because he causes me to think about my legacy. The last part of verse 4 says “He being dead still speaks.” That is an important topic. Everyone, from time to time, thinks about their life legacy.
I remember something that occurred when Bill Clinton was president. President Clinton had signed a bill protecting thousands of acres of land for national parks. I was listening to a television report about his actions. One reporter commented on the fact that President Clinton was in the last days of his presidency. He said “President Clinton is concerned about his legacy.” That was true for President Clinton. However, it should also be true for us. What will be our legacy?
Adults, what will be your legacy in the work place?
Young people, what will be your legacy at school?
Parents, what will be your legacy at home?
What can we learn from Abel? Look at the verse. “By faith Abel offered to God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, through which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts; and through it he being dead still speaks.”
I. In building a legacy focus your life on what is eternally important! The bottom line in studying Abel’s life is found in the last phrase of verse 4, “he being dead still speaks.” Abel left behind a legacy. We need to be reminded of what is important.
Illustration: A young university graduate crossed a large river on a barge. An elderly, worn, gentleman was driving the barge. The university student asked the old man three questions: 1) “Do you know anything about physics?” “Nope”, replied the old man.
“Then 1/3 of your life has been wasted!” 2) “Do you know anything about philosophy?”
“Nope”, replied the old man. “Then another 1/3 of your life has been wasted!” 3) “Do you know anything about social sciences?” “Nope”, replied the old man. “Then another 1/3 of your life has been wasted!” Suddenly, the barge hit a large object, took on water rapidly, and overturned. Both men were thrown into the water. The old man cried out to the young student, “Do you know anything about swimming?” The young man replied “No.” “Then your whole life is wasted!” replied the old man. We may have a tremendous amount of knowledge, but without a knowledge of Jesus Christ, we are nothing .
(Contributed to Sermon Central by Martin Scarce)
There is an old gospel song that states “only what’s done for Christ will last.” That should be our vision.
A man by the name of Stephen Covey has written a book entitled “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. One of the principles in that book states, “Plan your life from the end backward”. In other words, if you want your life to end a certain way, start at the end and plan backwards.
My dad died a few weeks ago. We are in the process of clearing up his estate. We gave away his clothes. My mother is selling a lot of his equipment. This has caused me to do a lot of thinking. I have realized, more than ever, that the things we do for God and for other people are the important things.
II. In building a legacy move beyond the past! Think about Abel. What do you think he would have said if you asked him to identify the greatest barrier in living a Godly life. Keep in mind, he was the second son of Adam and Eve. He might have said, “My daddy and momma had a sin problem. They got kicked out of paradise.” He could have blamed his parents. He could have said “I would live for God but my daddy and momma did not set a good example.”
Illustration: Consider Charles Colson, the aide to Richard Nixon who was sent to jail for Watergate. As a result of his experience Colson founded Prison Fellowship, now the world’s largest Christian outreach to prisoners and their families. Prison Fellowship has more than 50,000 volunteers working in hundreds of prisons in 88 countries around the world. Prison Fellowship has blessed millions of people. This ministry got started twenty-five years ago because Charles Colson committed a crime. God’s eternal purposes for that man included even the sin that sent him to prison. It was a part of God’s plan from the very beginning.
But the story that matters most to you isn’t Charles Colson’s. It’s yours. And what I want to say to you this morning is that the story of your life has not been ruined, not by your sin or anyone else’s. God’s good plan for your life is not buried under the mistakes of the past. God has a plan for your life, a good plan, a wise plan, a loving plan, a sovereign plan, and that plan is still in effect. You haven’t missed it. He is working out that plan in your life right now, today.
(SOURCE: Alan Perkins in "Getting Past Your Past”. sermoncentral.com/sermon.asp? SermonID=34927&ContributorID=5916)
What are some of the ways you and I could be hindered by our past?
A. We could be hindered by sin, failure and bad decisions.
Illustration: This past week there has been much in the paper about Michael Vick’s alleged involvement in a dog fighting ring. If this is true, it might end his professional football career. Here is a young man, twenty-seven years of age, who is at the peak of his playing career. His poor decisions may cost him his career.
Our past could hinder us but that is not set in stone. By the grace of God we can leave a lasting legacy. God will help us rise above our past, if we desire it. Think of the people in the Bible who rose above their past. David was a shepherd yet he became Israel’s greatest king. Moses faced upheaval in his younger years yet God steered him to be the leader of the Israelite people. Paul was a bitter enemy of the church yet he became God’s greatest New Testament spokesman.
B. We could be hindered by an unpleasant family situation.
Illustration: Marilyn Monroe was one such example. She was a young girl who spent much of her childhood in foster homes. In one of those foster homes, at the age of 8, she was abused physically and given a nickel and told to tell no one. When she tried to tell her foster mother, her mother spanked her and told her not to say anything about it again because the man was a man who faithfully paid his rent. At the age of 35, on a Saturday night, Marilyn Monroe killed herself. Her maid found her the next morning on her bed with the telephone dangling off the receiver. Investigators learned that she’d called another actor and told him she’d taken enough sleeping pills to kill herself. He told her he didn’t care. They were the last words she was to hear. Her family situation or lack thereof haunted her.
C. We could be hindered by our circumstances. Abel was a shepherd. Shepherd’s, in Biblical days, were not known for being among society’s elite. This is why the shepherd’s presence at Jesus birth was such a miracle. In society, shepherd’s were poorly educated. The religious community considered them to be unclean.
Illustration: In September I am going with the senior adults to a conference in Pigeon Forge. One of the keynote speakers will be Art Linkletter. Most of the younger generation do not know Art Linkletter’s name. However, among older generations Art Linkletter was a household name. He was a big name in Hollywood. What a lot of people do not know is that Art Linkletter was a hobo at one point in his life. He rose above those circumstances.
We are not always given the best of circumstances; however, that does not have to hinder us. You might say, I would live for God but my work environment is not conducive to living as a Christian. That does not have to hinder you! You might say, I would live for God but my home life is not conducive to living as a Christian. That does not have to hinder you! You might say, I would live for God at school but it is not easy to live for God at school. That does not have to hinder you! You can blame your past or blame your circumstances.
I heard about a meter reader that overcame a bad circumstance to do the job as a meter reader. The man said “Overcoming locked gates, tall fences and snapping dogs presents a challenge for us meter readers in rural Oklahoma, where we are required to read all meters: no estimates are allowed.” One time a co-worker succeeded in getting past a particularly vicious watchdog tied to a chain that was long enough to give him sway over the entire back yard and driveway. Later, the man was questioned by his superior: "How were you able to get past that watchdog? The customer is curious." "That’s easy, boss," the meter reader replied. "I parked on his chain."
(SOURCE: Jeff Strite, Church of Church, Logansport, IN. Citation: Reader’s Digest 12/86, p.5.)
By the grace of God, He will give us hope. He will give us a new start. Abel rose above his past to leave a Godly legacy.
III. In building a legacy concentrate your life on honoring God
I think we are intimidated by the challenge of a Godly life because we put too much emphasis on self. We focus on all of our mistakes. We focus on all of our short comings. Do not misunderstand me. We should be concerned with displaying a Godly character. However, Godliness should not begin with us. It should begin with God. Abel concentrated on honoring, obeying and worshipping God. When God becomes our focus then God will change our lives.
Illustration: Consider a hot air balloon. A hot air balloon rises because it is filled with hot air. The success of the balloon is based on the balloon being filled with hot air. Without the air the balloon goes nowhere. That is the essence of what should happen in the heart of a believer. The presence of God causes us to rise. He fills us with himself and makes us Godly people. This takes success from our shoulders and places it into the hands of a loving, gracious Heavenly Father.
IV. In building a legacy give your best to God!
In the Genesis account of Abel’s life we find two brothers. Cain was the oldest and Abel was the youngest. Both of these brothers brought an offering to God. Cain brought an offering from the ground. He was a farmer. Abel was a shepherd. He brought an offering from the flock. The Bible tells us God “respected Abel and his offering but He did not respect Cain and his offering.” What was the difference? We do not know the complete story but two truths come to the surface. First, Abel brought from the “first fruit” of his flock. That means he gave his very best to God. We discover this in Genesis. In Hebrews we learn that Abel gave his offering “by faith.” We do not know the full story of what went on but we know he acted in faith. If you had been there and witnessed the actions of Cain and Abel you would have seen their actions as being equal. However, God saw the truth. He knew Cain gave begrudgingly. He knew Abel gave his best in faith.
The same is true every Sunday. All of us look the same as we stand before God. All of us look the same as we worship. However, we need to be reminded that God sees your heart. God does not see as man sees. God sees the innermost thoughts of your heart. Are you giving God your best? Are you walking by faith?
God gave the best he had when he sent Jesus to die for you. He died in your place on the cross. God in turn expects us to give our best to him. It begins in the heart and moves into our daily actions. It begins with a commitment.
