<You may want to read Hebrews 11:32-39 before reading this. I’ll copy it below.>

These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

Hebrews 11:39-40 (NIV) (6-14-11)

Only together with us would they be made perfect.

That “together” is, of course, through Jesus and in His Kingdom.

Which is how we have to view the whole thing, just like the preceding paragraphs. Some are triumphant on this earth, some physically defeated yet spiritually victorious. And you have to look at the big picture.

Taken separately, you’d say the ones in 39b were “losers”, the Davids and Daniels “winners.” But, again, it’s a team sport. And the team wins, partly because of the Daniels, but also because of the Stephens and other martyrs. Everyone together doing their part, being together made perfect.

And whatever part of the team God wants me on, for however long, I’m on the winning side and the victory party goes on forever. And that’s what really counts.

[Father, thank You that I’m on the winning side, Your side. Use me however You wish.]

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Hebrews 11:32-40 (NIV)

32 And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. 35 Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. 36 Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were put to death by stoning;[e] they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— 38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground.

39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, 40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.