There is a wonderful thought at the close of Hebrews 11. Paul wrote that
his great list of heroes had not yet received the perfection promised.
Their perfection did not come from the list of their great accomplishments.
It is only together with us would they find perfection. Perfection comes as
a gift only from Jesus. As great as Abram was, as great as Gideon, Barak,
Jephthah, Samuel and Rahab were, the only way for them to be perfect was
exactly the same way you and I become perfect. When Jesus was nailed to the
cross one arm pointed backward in history and one arm pointed forward. He
and He alone can provide salvation to anyone who ever lived on this aged
planet. The New Covenant was older than the Old Covenant. The only reason
the Old Covenant ever existed was because of the ignorance of people who
thought they could somehow appease an angry God. The truth is there was
always a loving Father wooing and courting His people. A few caught
glimpses. Habakkuk 2:4, "The just shall live by faith. " And Romans 1:17,
"The just shall live by faith." There is and always has been only one way
to be redeemable. We must allow Jesus to do it for us.

Hebrews 11:34 promises "our weaknesses will be turned to strength." Paul
inserts this for those of us who so often feel inadequate or incapable of
belonging to such an illustrious group. God has His Hebrews 11 people in
every age. They are walking among us. Perhaps you work with one, live with
one, pray or play with one. Their goodness - not their perfection -
permeates their lives and makes our lives richer and more meaningful.