“‘For yet a little while, and He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him’” (Hebrews 10:37-38).
Many Bible students probably know very little about Habakkuk. This man of God lived in the second half of the seventh century B. C. (i.e., from 650-600 B. C.). He wrote during a time of great moral collapse within his nation (Habakkuk 1:2-4). What is revealed to Habakkuk in the first chapter of his book is that Jerusalem was facing an impending conquest by the Babylonians (verses 5-11). Living by faith was a monumental challenge.
Fast forward seven centuries and you find a comparable situation in Jerusalem in Judaea. The fabric of Jewish society was fraying quickly. Christians were choosing to quit the fight of faith, succumbing to the temptation to draw back from the spiritual battle front. The destruction of Jerusalem by the Roman army was less than a decade away. Living by faith was a monumental challenge.
During such tumultuous and trying times, what does God expect of His people?
Does He lower the bar of His expectations? Does He “ease up” on insisting His people endure?
No! and No!
His expectation remains constant: “Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him” (Habakkuk 2:4; Hebrews 10:38).
