The Amazing You

Have you ever thought about what an amazing thing it is that you are here. Not here reading this but that you are here on this planet. That you are alive, a living and breathing human being, a living soul.

Think back. Back. Way back. Who were your grandparents, your great-great grandparents, your great-great-great grandparents? If you live in the United States most of our ancestors had to endure a trip across the ocean at some point, either free or as slave. Even those who were free were escaping horrific conditions or they probably would not have gotten on a ship bound with an uncertain future.

In addition to this they have had to endure disease, famine, drought, flood, fire, wild animals, and the whole dangerous trip of conception and birth itself.

It's pretty amazing if you stop and think about it. You are a product of all of these people who have gone before you. You just didn't pop into the world one day without a back story. And it's this back story of people who have struggled for survival, down through the millennium, that is somehow wrapped in what makes you the unique person that you are. Feats of bravery, valor and glory as well as moments of personal shame and defeat mingle together with our own personal stories.

In the Bible, the Apostle Paul begins to recount the past and men and women of faith and before he mentions them he begins by remembering their faith.

• "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible.(Romans 11:1-3)

After he mentions Abel, and Enoch, and Abraham and Moses, just to name a few he moves to the present and how this matters to the people his letter was intended for those and he says:

• Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  (Hebrew 12: 1-3)

I find it interesting that Paul refers to those who have lived in the past and are part of our story of faith "a great cloud of witnesses". Those who have gone before us, their lives and moments of courage and faith have written the future we now live in.

Have you ever stopped to think that your life is writing the future story for someone yet to arrive on the scene? What you do today matters. It matters to you, to your children, born or unborn, and to their children and their children.

Do not give up. Do not lose faith. There is a great cloud of witnesses who have paid with their lives so that your future with God could be ensured. You are now one of those in the line of faith whose story will be recounted in the future as an example and an encouragement for others.