A Pilgrimage Of Faith, J.B. Toews, 1993

cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. The hope for the Mennonite Brethren Church in the fu- ture is expressed in the word: "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name" (Rev, 3:8). The qualification for the open door is the commendation 320 A CALL TO COMMITMENT "you have kept my word and not denied my name/ The fu- ture is conditioned with the call to keep his Word and give priority to a walk worthy of the name of Christ, based on the message of New Testament conversion, genuine discipleship and commitment to his church in the blessed hope of his re- turn. 321 CHAPTER 22 "The Race That Is Set Before Us* HEBREWS 12:1 The Mennonite Brethren pilgrimage of faith is a small part of the much larger history of God's redemptive work in the world. The record of the Old Testament and the testimony of church history are a witness to human frailty on one hand, and the merciful grace of God on the other. The book of Hebrews is a reminder of how God's all-sufficiency in divine redemption triumphs over human im- perfection. It recognizes Israel's failures, acknowledges the tragedy of human weakness, and points to the provision of the Word of God which is "sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spir- it, and of joint and marrow, and is a discemer of the thoughts and intents of the heart" (Heb, 4:12>, In contrast to the weak- nesses and failures of humanity, the Holy Spirit calls attention to the great "high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God" and adds "let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin* (Heb. 4:15). The record of the pastf given in Hebrews 11, is not a dis- play of human sin and unfaithfulness. In the gallery of faith Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Gideon, David and Samuel are people without a perfect record. But their imper- fections were dealt with in divine judgment and foigiveness and they stand before us as heroes of faith, trophies of God's mercy and grace. They are recognized as a people who 323 A PILGRIMAGE OF FAITH had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment: They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted,