Overview:
Hebrews 11:32–38
Over the vast expanse of Scripture, a variety of admirable people cross our paths. Because God not only preserved the record of their lives but also used each one to model particular character traits, it seems appropriate for us to become better acquainted with both the people and their individual qualities, which are worth emulating. By way of introduction, we want to get our foot in the door of this series by looking at the great biographical chapter in the New Testament—Hebrews 11—which has been called “God’s Hall of Faith.” These men and women lived lives worthy of being remembered, so let’s remember them—for they, being dead, still speak.
Message Summary:
In this introductory message to the “Biblical Character” series, Chuck Swindoll explores the essential nature of character using the “Hall of Faith” found in Hebrews 11 as a backdrop. Swindoll defines character as the “moral, ethical, and spiritual undergirding that rests on truth, that reinforces a life, and that resists the temptation to compromise”. He contrasts the role of friends with the role of character during hard times: while friends speak to you in a crisis, character speaks for you.
Swindoll emphasizes that while talent may be formed in solitude, character is forged in the “world’s torrent” and the “hammer blows of affliction”. He draws four major conclusions regarding character:
- Character is found in people: It resides only in human beings who bear the Imago Dei (image of God), not in animals or technology.
- Character is developed in the crucible: Suffering and trouble are essential for growth, just as “sparks fly upward”.
- Character is not quickly acquired: It cannot be inherited automatically from parents; it requires time and personal responsibility.
- Character is not necessarily a permanent possession: It is easier kept than recovered, and history is filled with those who lost it in times of stress.
The message concludes with a look at the “Westminster Abbey of Scripture” in Hebrews 11, noting that the list contains imperfect people—from farmers to harlots—who possessed greatness of character.
Message Key Facts:
- Defining Character: Swindoll offers a specific definition: “Character is the moral, ethical, and spiritual undergirding that rests on truth, that reinforces a life, and that resists the temptation to compromise”.
- Talent vs. Character: Quoting the German poet Johann Goethe, Swindoll notes, “Talent is formed in stillness, character in the world’s torrent”.
- The “Hard Times” Illustration: The sermon opens with a reference to Charles Dickens’ novel Hard Times and its character Thomas Gradgrind, illustrating that navigating life’s difficulties requires more than scientific facts; it requires friends and character.
- “Sons of Flame”: In analyzing Job 5:7 (“man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward”), Swindoll notes that the Hebrew for “sparks” is literally “sons of flame,” indicating that humans are by nature of the “lineage of trouble”.
- The Westminster Abbey of Scripture: Swindoll refers to Hebrews 11 as the “Westminster Abbey of Scripture” or the “Reader’s Digest of the Old Testament,” highlighting that it lists triumphs (stopping lions) and tragedies (being sawn in two).
- Isaiah’s Martyrdom: While not recorded in Scripture, Swindoll mentions that extra-biblical history (such as the Talmud and early church fathers) suggests it was the prophet Isaiah who was “sawn in two” as mentioned in Hebrews 11:37.
- Ted Williams’ Integrity: Swindoll uses baseball legend Ted Williams as an illustration of character. When offered a high contract after a poor season, Williams insisted on a pay cut, believing he had not earned the higher amount.
- The Catacombs: The message closes with a description of early Christians buried in the Roman catacombs. Despite evidence of brutal torture, their inscriptions breathe “peace, joy, and triumph,” proving they were men and women of whom the world was not worthy.
Message References:
- Hebrews 11:32–40: The primary text, known as the “Hall of Faith,” listing those who obtained a good reputation through faith.
- Genesis 1:26–27: The creation account establishing that only humans are made in the image and likeness of God.
- Romans 5:1–5: A passage explaining that tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance brings about “proven character”.
- Job 5:7: “For man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward”.
- Hebrews 5:8: A reference to Jesus learning obedience “through the things He suffered”.
- Philippians 4:8: The exhortation to dwell on things that are true, honest, just, pure, and of good report.
