Hebrews 11 | What's a lesson for the original audience?

While there are certainly numerous lessons to take away from Hebrews 11, much of the goal of the writer of Hebrews is to establish an example for the original audience. The reality is that he understands what they are going through. He himself is undergoing persecution and has undergone it. Faithfulness carries with it risk, but for the people of God, the end is a reward.

If you are to look at those from the list, it is spelled out with man, woman, Jew, Gentile, rich, and poor. It is a list that becomes applicable to all people. It was comprised of those like Abraham who was the father of faith to Rahab who was a harlot. Nevertheless, faith was the marker that tied them all together. The Lord delighted in the people's faith. I find that to be of the utmost importance. But even more than that was the result.

For many, walking by faith proved to result in triumph. For others, however, it resulted in brutal living and dying. Whether or not the result was pleasant, to each of those that held on, reward is promised. Once again there is the simple urgency to the people of holding on to their faith. By faith they did amazing things. And faith is what they held on to. They may not have seen the fullness of their hope, but they still held on, even to the very end. And so the writer to the Hebrews uses their example to encourage his audience. Hold fast to you faith! Don't let go of the hope you have in Christ Jesus.

What lesson do you see for the original audience?