Hebrews 11:8-12
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.
The Christian faith must be a lifelong possession. Those who do not endure in faith over the course of life, show that they never really had true faith to begin with. Living by faith is not easy. We wrestle with difficulties that might lead us to question even our salvation. Christians need encouragement to maintain their profession of faith, and that is found in God’s Word. In our verses today, Christians find special encouragement to remain in faith. These examples of the saints of old who continued in faith despite never receiving all of the promises are there to motivate us to trust God as we wait for Him to bring all things to final consummation. In the New Testament, Abraham’s faith is held up as the example of faith par excellence. And, the author emphasizes that about Abraham in our verses today. He tells us, Abraham “went out, not knowing where he was going.” First, God calls Abram from Ur to go to a place God will “show him.” Scripture tells us eventually God led Abram to the land of Canaan. Yet, Abram faithfully trusts God and obeys. Persevering faith trusts God to direct us even when we may not know where He is leading us. Abraham did not inherit the Promised Land and he lived as a stranger in Canaan, dwelling in tents because he had no land of his own, except the burial ground he purchased. In faith, Abraham was looking forward to the city whose builder is God Himself. Abraham understood that this earthly land only pointed forward to the heavenly country that was, and still is, yet to come. Today, we, children of Abraham by faith, live as strangers in the world. We will inherit the whole earth when Jesus returns to bring the city built by God and promised in Revelation 21. Until then, we, like Abraham, must continue trusting God to direct us, to provide for us, and to bring His creation to renewal. Jesus is our ultimate example of one who lived as a stranger in the Promised Land. By dwelling, “tabernacling,” among us, Jesus became the ultimate example of the one who lived in tents in the land that was, by all rights, His. As you read through the Gospels, let Jesus’ trust in the Father encourage you to trust Him as well.
Source: S C Ball April 15, 2024
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