The Real Successful Life, Part 2 – Hebrews 11:4

There is nothing about Abel that would cause the world to consider him successful. His life was tragically cut short when he was murdered by his own brother for worshipping God properly. But Scripture says that God remembered him, and that though he died, he still speaks. Abel, like every other Christian, is truly successful, because God considered him so.

What are the marks of those whom God considers successful?

As we have learned from the example of Abel’s faith, those who are successful are true worshippers. Worship begins by recognizing Jesus as the one true God, and it results from faithful obedience to His Word. (Jn 4:23-24)

Secondly, those who are successful are accepted by God as righteous. Every religion apart from Christianity is a failed attempt to satisfy God by human effort. No matter how righteous man tries to be, he falls short of God’s righteousness. However, God testified that Abel was righteous. Did Abel keep the whole law? No, Abel’s righteousness did not come from himself, because he was a sinner just like every man and woman born after the Fall. (Rom 5:12) No one can be righteous on his own. The Bible says that none is righteous. (Rom 3:10) Sin is most clearly revealed by how man has dealt with Jesus. We crucified the Lord Jesus Christ because we hated God and His holiness. (Jn 19:15) The Bible says our hearts are deceitful, rendering us incapable on our own to judge true righteousness. (Jer 17:9-10) And that even in our sin, we prefer self-righteousness over God’s righteousness. We create our own standards and ways to approach God based on our experiences and emotions. Deceived by self-righteousness, we decide for ourselves what would please God. (Rom 10:2-3) Jesus warns us against this sort of legalism- those who trust in themselves for salvation will be shut out of the kingdom of heaven. (Matt 7:21-23)

Then how can one be righteous before God? God considers a man righteous by an imputed righteousness- the imputed righteousness of Christ alone. (Rom 5:1, 10:4) The righteousness of Jesus is the only acceptable righteousness we can have before God because apart from Christ, no one is righteous. Only Christ satisfied God completely. Those who trust in Christ alone for salvation will be considered righteous by God, because they have been washed by the blood of Jesus and given His robes of righteousness. (2Cor 5:21)

How do you know you’re righteous? Those who are righteous live by faith. (Heb 10:38) They trust and depend on God to work in their lives and guide them, and they find rest as God hears and answers their prayers. (James 5:16) The righteous hate sin, and are constantly engaged in spiritual warfare, having been freed from its dominion. They are compassionate. They are gospel-centered, and they love, serve, and give generously to fellow believers. (Matt 25:37, 40) Lastly, the righteous are humble, seeing themselves truly in the light of God’s greatness and glory.

In addition to being true worshippers who are righteous before God, those who are successful live forever. True success is eternal life. Abel still speaks today, because though he died, he is still alive. He obtained eternal life through his faith. Eternal life begins here and now, and like Abel, those who live, speak. (2Cor 4:13) They speak of Jesus’s death and resurrection, and in their love and compassion, they readily share the gospel with the lost. All things pass away, and when our lives are over, all our worldly accomplishments and possessions will soon be forgotten. But to be remembered as one whose words led others to eternal life in Jesus Christ is real success, and that legacy will survive to the glory of Christ forever.