Witnesses and Doves

A question that is sometimes raised when a loved on dies, is, “Does our loved one see us now?” And many times, myself included, the “expert” refers to Hebrews 12:1 as an indication that they might. Ravi Zacharias had on interesting not on that a sermon that I heard. It makes a lot of sense.

Realize that verses 12:1-3 are best considered to be the end of chapter 11 and not a new thought. Also recall that “therefore” is always pointing back to the previous statement. Since there are all of these “witnesses” let us be as diligent in running our race as they were. It probably does not necessarily mean that they are watching us, but that we can see by their example that this faith stuff really works.

The word translated witnesses is an action word, not a passive one. They acted and by following their example, witness, we too can succeed. In other words, we do not run because they can see us, but because we can see in them how to run. (Ravi continued with the thought in Hebrews 12. “Lay aside the weight.” We will examine that in a later post.)

This will encourage us to engage life as they did. This is, seemingly, a better interpretation of the role of the witnesses than having them crowding around the arena and moaning or alternatively cheering as we stumble through life. They know God is in control and will ultimately bring things to His conclusion and having a “play by play” of our progress seems to serve no purpose.

It is not like they are just sitting up there with nothing else to do. Weak example coming up: It is almost like having the Dallas Cowboys taking a break from practice to watch a group of eight year old boys playing a pickup game in the neighboring park. They boys would be well advised to watch and emulate the “witnesses.”

Warren Wiersby inadvertently got in on our discussion with another comment. (I told you these were community contributions.) He was discussing Jesus and His baptism. Afterward,  the Holy Spirit, as a dove, descended from heaven and landed on Him. (Matthew 3:16) Then Wiersby referred back to Noah in Genesis 8:12, when he released a dove that did not come back to him. We know that the specific dove probably found a place for a nest and did not return. But the picture or type of a dove coming from out of nowhere to land on Jesus is intriguing.

Wiersby continued that the dove, representing the Holy Spirit, could not land on the first Adam. He was a thief–stole someone else’s fruit. In fact no one in the Old Testament was worthy. David was an adulterer and murderer. Abraham lied about his wife. Isaac did also. Jacob, well, we don’t need to catalog Jacob’s failings. Moses struck the rock. And on and on. Daniel may have come the closest. But Exekiel tells us that if a man’s righteousness could deliver Jerusalem from coming judgment, even Noah, Daniel, and Job could only do themselves. (Ezekiel 14:14) (The picture is not works salvation, but that they had faith and it saved them, but could not be transferred.)

So only when Christ appeared on the scene did the Dove have a worthy object upon which to rest. Back to Ezekiel, if anyone is going to be saved, we need a Substitute who is able to save  more than himself. He had “transferrable” faith.

Do these ideas have any correlation? The Dove, representing the Holy Spirit, left Noah and some of his post-flood “running” was not too relevant to be included in the witness accounts in Hebrews 11. But Jesus did sent that “Dove” back to us to encourage and empower our run. He called the Holy Spirit the “Paraclete,” also called our Helper or Counselor in English translations.

We have an advantage that Noah did not have. The Holy Spirit indwells us permanently. Noah only had two “witnesses” to guide him Enoch and Abel. We have all the rest of the list.

Run well. The witnesses are waiting.