Even today God’s perseverant people in faith are still around us. In this way we should remember our leaders as an example of faith in their life and death (Hebrews 13:7). The writer is possibly referring to pastors who were tortured and killed for their faith. Even today there are examples of faith lived: members of the church or family members who bear their illness in faith and die in Christ. What a powerful witness! How encouraging it is to keep thinking of members of the church who have died in faith! They often leave us with a text or a song. In this way they are around us and call us: join us. We have already arrived. Now you too must come this way!
We stand in that long line of pilgrims, on their way to the heavenly city, as Abraham expected (Hebrews 11:9–10; Hebrews 11:13–16). Keep thinking of and staying connected with the saints who have gone before us. Discover in church history and around you today what God gave and gives to faith! [Be] imitators of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises
(Hebrews 6:12).
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,