“These all died in faith” (Hebrews 11:13)

The greatest epitaph for saints is “they died in faith”. It doesn’t matter how they died, whether peaceably in their beds or martyred for the faith, as long as they made it Home. In life, faith was their comfort, their guide, their motive and their support, and in faith they died. Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Sarah, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephtha, David and Samuel are listed in the Hebrews Hall of Faith.

 “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:13-16). 

 Dying in faith related to their past. They believed the promises which had gone before, and were assured their sins were blotted out through the mercy of God. 

 Dying in faith related to their present. They were confident of their acceptance with God, they enjoyed the beams of His love, and rested in His faithfulness. 

 Dying in faith related to their future. They fell asleep, affirming that the Messiah would surely come, and when, in the last days, after He appeared on Earth, they would rise from their graves to behold Him. To them, the pains of death were but the birth-pangs of a better state. 

If you’re saved, you have a great advantage over the saints in the Hall of Faith. Since you’re living after the Day of Pentecost, when God gave the Holy Spirit to live inside of saints, you’re privileged to experience, “the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints…Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26-27).