More Important than the Promises

Hebrews 11:39 KJV

And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

Though the adventures and exploits of those in the Hebrews Hall of Faith are 

• Fascinating
• Inspiring and 
• Spiritually enriching

there is a point to them beyond what was accomplished by faith. The point is that none of them have, to date, received their promises. 

In every case, though some portions of the promises have been fulfilled, the ultimate fulfillment has not yet happened. They have not obtained their promises. 

What they have obtained is a good report. 

• Their reputations live on
• Their influence continues though in some cases they have left this land of the living five thousand years ago
• They continue to teach to inspire to lead to give example and it is because they lived by faith

In some cases we do not know their names. They still inspire because we know that, through the years, there have always been those people who tirelessly and quietly walked on by faith. We don't need their names. We have their examples. We have the evidence of what happens when someone whose name will never make the history books lives nonetheless by faith. 

And we know that, though our names may never be recorded in history, as we walk by faith, God is keeping record and we too set an example for those who follow.