Ashamed

This past Sunday I talked about how Jesus was not ashamed to be identify with a bunch of sinners.  He proved that when He went down into the waters and asked John the Baptist to baptize Him.  John's baptism was a baptism of repentance, and Jesus had nothing to repent of.  But He willingly identified Himself with people like me who do.  He's not ashamed. 

I wondered if there is anything a person could do that would make God ashamed of them. 

Then I remember Hebrews 11, the chapter in the book of Hebrews entitled the "Great Hall of Faith."  The chapter is filled with all these people who "kept the faith."  And right in the middle of it we read this passage...

Hebrews 11:13-16

 ¹³ All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. ¹⁴ Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. ¹⁵ If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. ¹⁶ But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

That last sentence always stops me in my tracks, "That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God..."  The reason is because they were forward looking people.  They were looking forward to the promises of God.  They never quit on God or on themselves.

A good friend of my once said when his business failed, "I allowed myself one day to have a pity party for myself.  But then the next day, it was get up and going.  I have work to do." 

Sometimes life deals us a heavy blow that rocks our world.  It takes us off our feet.  God is there to help us up and to point us to a future.  To a new hope in Him.  The only thing that would make God ashamed is when we simply give up on Him and on ourselves. 

Keep moving forward in faith!  His promises are for you too!