Bible Reading: Job 19; Hebrews. 12:1-13.
“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God” – Hebrews 12:2 (KJV).
An author is the originator of any written work such as a book or play, and is thus also a writer. More broadly defined, an author is “the person who originated or gave existence to anything.” So Jesus, being the originator of our faith is its author. Also a finisher is one who completes or perfects something. In this case, Jesus Christ is the perfecter of our faith.
In other words, Jesus is the originator and perfecter of our faith having laid example of what this entails for us so that we can follow. Our memory verse Hebrews 12:2 (KJV) says: “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” So Jesus went through excruciating pains on the cross because of faith in being on the right hand of God.
We are also expected to withstand the shame, pain and troubles that we may face in exercising our faith in God. The result, as we see with Jesus is that we would be justified. People may abuse us, mock us, betray us, inflict pains on us because of our faith; we should remain steadfast knowing that Jesus Christ, our perfect example, went through more challenges and he did not sin. He ended up on the right hand of God.
Some years ago, my elder brother became the first person to give his life to Christ in our family. My father, who was then a Muslim did not only reject him as a son but also tried all means to charm him to death. So you can imagine the level of pains my brother went through but he did not waiver. And surprisingly to us at home, none of the charms could kill him. Some years later, I travelled outside the country and my father was so sick and was admitted at Sagamu Teaching Hospital that we thought he was going to die. It was then my rejected brother’s turn to “deal” with my father. So he went to the hospital and prayed for him in the name of Christ. And the following day, instead of his death, when they got to the hospital, he was sitting on the bed. A few days later, he was discharged.
After the discharge, when my father got home, he asked my brother, the rejected son, to pray before he entered the house! Thus my brother looked unto Jesus, the author of his faith and he was not disappointed. You will not be disappointed in your faith in Jesus name.
Prayer: Father, give me the grace to remain faithful to you till the end in Jesus name.
Bro. Biodun Oyapero