Who’s In Your Great Cloud of Witnesses?

The writer of Hebrews speaks to us about heroes of the faith, men and women of whom the world was not worthy.

The writer mentions Moses and David, among others, and adds people who suffered destitution, mocking, flogging, and sawed-off extremities, all while looking to a promised future.

Then, this remarkable statement: Since you are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.

Somewhere closer than we realize, unseen but very, very real, a crowd of encouragers surrounds us.

I wonder – who’s in my crowd? What people of faith, now passed into glory, cheer me in my daily race? I think of my father, gone 30 years now. I remember people from my church as a boy, those who taught Sunday School, hoping and praying for faith to take root in a room of unruly kids.

Recently my cousin sent me an obituary for our great-great grandmother, Charlotte Angeline Bilyeu, who died on January 21, 1931. Orphaned by the Civil War, Charlotte married at age 15 and raised 10 children. Here’s what’s written regarding her faith:

She joined the Missionary Baptist Church 43 years ago, and remained faithful until God in his wisdom saw fit to remove her from this world to the world beyond, where there will be no heartaches or sighing. Her last admonitions to her children were to make their preparations while in this life that they might be reunited in the world to come.

the crane chronicle (crane missouri) Jan 29, 1931

I believe great-great-grandma Charlotte stands among my cloud of witnesses.

Who stands in yours?

Hebrews 11 & 12 in week nine of reading the Bible cover to cover