All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews11:13-16
The Hebrews writer, in talking about Abraham's faith, takes this brief excursus to describe Abraham and those who follow in his footsteps...
They are described as pilgrims, as aliens and those who didn't hammer their tent-pegs in too deep.
People who live by faith:
- believe God's promises and reach for things that are still distant.
- have this hope even on their death-beds.
- realise that they don't belong here and don't try too hard to.
- realise that this world is not the be-all and end-all.
- strive for the ultimate instead of settling in mediocrity.
- don't hold on to earthly things too tightly.
- don't turn back to things that won't last.
These are folk who live in the confidence of God's heavenly kingdom that is already breaking through in our reality but will transcend it.
These are folk who look to a big and majestic God and have their hope and trust in Him. And their faith is not disappointed because the destination is clear: Paul puts it like this:
"No eye has seen,
no ear has heard,
no mind has conceived
what God has prepared for those who love Him --
but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. (1Cor2:9-10)"
This doesn't mean that we are escapist pie-in-the-sky people, it means that we live in faith and trust doing our level best to make a difference as we pass through this life.
Sunday's Sabbath Rest and Worship are good opportunities to get a foretaste of the heavenly country. Don't miss out!
Have a blessed weekend!
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Theo Groeneveld theo@emmanuel.org.za
You can see past EmmDevs at http://emmdev.blogspot.com/
