“Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.”

1 Corinthians 9:25

In 1963, Canton, Ohio, became the shrine’s location for pro-football players coaches, including franchise owners and front-office personnel.  In the life of a football player, it is a high honor to be included in the annual class of inductees, which are typically four to eight people.  In a way, these fine athletes are made “immortal” in the sports world of football.  At the mention of the city, Canton, the faithful know it signifies fame forever. This shrine is called the Hall of Fame.

The class of 2022 inductees is made up of eight people:  six players, a coach, and an official.  The players include men whose job was to either protect the quarterback (offensive linemen), tackle the quarterback (defensive linemen), or receive a pass from the quarterback (wide receiver).   . The position of every defensive player is to stop the quarterback, while the job of every offensive player is to support the quarterback’s leadership in moving forward.

This 2022 class brings the total to 362 Football professionals in the Hall of Fame.  All have contributed to the game and reached the pinnacle of the sport.  They will receive a yellow jacket and be remembered for many years to come.  They are the few.  Almost all of us have no chance of ever becoming a professional football player, much less reaching this level.  It requires youth, strength, dedication, training, and genes you and I were not born with.

Did you know God has a Hall of Faith made up of many different people over hundreds, even thousands of years?  They were ordinary people like you and me!  This Hall of Fame, found in Hebrews chapter 11, has at least fifteen “immortalized” people who demonstrated exceptional faith; all were Old Testament characters!  But some groups of people also showed great faith in difficult times.  The children of Israel crossed over the Red Sea by faith and brought down the walls of Jericho. “Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.”  Hebrews 11: 35

This faith was not in a game but a person: the Lord Jesus. “The Author and Finisher of our faith.” Each person believed in the recorded promises of God, but each one in this Hall of Faith died without receiving the promise of God.  “And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise.”  Hebrews 11:39. 

What was it they were promised?  It was a homeland, a heavenly one. 

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 indeed, if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had the 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 12: 13-16

Just as the Football Hall of Famer inspires the football enthusiast, the Faith Hall of Famer inspires each person who has chosen to go all-in for Jesus.  This person who says, they are a stranger and pilgrim on earth expresses faith in the promise of a better country.  More than likely, each will die before receiving the promise.  Nevertheless, a better country awaits those who live by faith.  But this is not a spectator life of faith.  It is active.  It requires dedication, training, and the “measure of faith” that God gives every person who comes into the world. (Romans 12:7).  If you are to be in God’s Hall of Faith, Paul gives us this final simple plea. 

Therefore, we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses (the Hall of Faith), let us lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author, and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12: 1-2

Will you choose to enter the race today?  How do you succeed?  Only one way.  You look to the Author and Finisher of our faith.  The Lord Jesus!