Seeing our FUTURE through EYES of FAITH!
December
16 Bible Reading: Hebrews Chapters 10-13
Seeing our FUTURE through EYES of FAITH!
"These all died in faith, not having
received the promises, but having seen
them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they
were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare
plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that
country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to
return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore
God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for
them." (Heb 11:13-16)
D. L. Moody
has once said that “faith makes all
things possible; love makes all things easy.” The people referred in the
above passage were Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Sarah (vv. 8, 9, 11), who all
died before taking possession of the land of Canaan that God had promised them (Gen. 12:1-3). They did not live
to see the fulfillment of the divine promises. However, they endured in their
faith until the end knowing that this world was temporary, that their eternal
home would be with God. Finally, they died believing God would fulfill His
promises to them eventually one day.
It is
interesting to note that these patriarchs were seeking a ‘heavenly’ homeland. This is rather remarkable since most of the
promises made by God had to do with material blessings on this earth. But they
had a heavenly hope that enabled them
to treat this world as a foreign country. This spirit of pilgrimage is
especially pleasing to God, as Darby writes, “He is not ashamed to be called the God of those whose heart and
portion are in heaven.” God had prepared a city for them, and there they would
find rest, satisfaction and perfect peace.
In the same
way, we should not abandon our hope in the promises of God. Even though we do
not see the outcome of today’s struggles, by
faith let us see our future and the fact that we are going to our heavenly
home where we will live with our beloved Lord and Savior Jesus forever! Let us
remain faithful to our heavenly calling until the very end of our earthly
existence!
