Hebrews 12:23

ECHOING SPIRITS

This is "Echo Canyon;" we can almost hear the mysterious and ever lovely, reverberating sound as we yell "Jesus."  Echoes are an interesting phenomenon; in Physics, they are known as "returned signals."  In the Bible, they are known as "the spirits of just men made perfect," or in this illustration, Echoing Spirits.

                                                                             

           "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn,

            which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge 

           of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect."

We follow in the footsteps and precepts of the greatest men and women who ever lived, the patriarchs, prophets and martyrs of the old Testament and the first Church.  They laid a foundation, established the doctrine, formulated unmoving faith, and left a bloodstained footprinted trail for hungry, searching generations to follow.  We are identified with this

honorable court of people and with the echoes of their spiritual triumphs; we are continually encouraged to endure to the end.

      

                                                  

                     

       "Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, 

          obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions.  Quenched the violence of fire,

   escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better ressurection: ... cruel mockings and scourgings ... bonds and imprisonment ... they were stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, slain with the sword ..."

(Hebrews 11:33-37)

The echoes of "just men made perfect" get louder and louder as we approach the Rapture of the church and the world seems to digress to the persecutions of old.  We cup our ears a little tighter to hear those echoes of the soldiers of the faith, the stalwart heroes of the Great I AM, the members of Club Strength, the martyrs now robed in white.

          

                                  "When he opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar

                                                   the souls of those who had been slain because of the

                                                  word of God and the testimony they had maintained."

                                                                                           (Revelation 6:9)

The pages of the Bible are moving at a rapid pace, and our headlines are matching the Holy script.  People today, throughout the world, are imprisoned, tortured, and dying for their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is not for nought; life in earth is but a mere moment compared to the glorious eternity awaiting us.  So, we march on; we stand tall; we refuse to recant, for we "know" the Spirit that lives within us and we live day by day uplifted by that Spirit, and the ever-present comforting sound of "Echoing Spirits," beckoning us to the eternal reward!

       

 

                                                                                                                                      By Sheryl Fowler

               (Visit promiselandchurch.net and theexperience238.com.

               PromiseLand Church, Austin, Texas, Pastor Kenneth Phillips)