By Faith Looking Forward

 DEVOTION

TO HEBREWS

BY FAITH LOOKING FORWARD

Heb 11:8-10

8 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9 By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

NIV

Abraham could be the most notable man of faith we will visit with. We will see him listed twice in this Hall of Faith; however, we may have to visit this first account to grasp all the truth that can be applied to us. First, we have also been called to a place we will later receive as our inheritance. There is no doubt living as a believer in Jesus Christ has been a blessing. We have received so much, gained an incredible amount of spiritual blessing, and far more material gain than we could ever imagine. Our lives are fuller than they would have ever been had we not met Jesus. He has sent the Holy Spirit to dwell within us, testifying to all the truth from God, and leading us toward and through that truth. The Spirit has also led us through this physical life, taking us to where we were to live, work, and worship, moving us when it was according to the will of the Father. We have obeyed and went even to places we did not know where we were going. On a personal note, finding our first new home, which God told me he would give me, was not revealed as we drove on an unknown road until we saw a white dove, and there within a minute, we saw new homes being built. God has always and will always guide us to places he desires us to be. Secondly, we must always take note that we too are strangers in a foreign country. In some sense, we live in tents as well, for no matter how well our homes are built, and how solid they feel to us, they are only temporary dwelling places. We might say that we have put down our roots here, deciding this is the best place to live, but we should not it was not our choice, because we obey God and go where he wants us to live, work, and worship. All our earthy experiences and gains are simply temporary, perhaps preparing us for what is to come, yet it is by faith in Jesus that brings us our inheritance in an eternal home in the heavenly realm. We should not put our roots anywhere in this world, for our roots are in the word of God, and in our eternal place Jesus has prepared for us. Even our bodies are but a temporary tent in which we dwell as we will one day lay it down for a much better version of ourselves, one that is everlasting living with Jesus in that city with foundations. Let us always be looking forward to that place, always on the move with God, but in the Spiritual senses and the physical sense. Putting down roots is the opposite of being on the move, looking forward to our future home. Let us not live as stagnant residences but as strangers in this foreign land, looking forward to what is to come.