The faith of the patriarchs
– Abraham, Isaac, Jacob -- as summarized by the writer of Hebrews, demonstrates
their faith was the title deed to their heavenly hope, the proof of things they
could not see, the conviction of a reality beyond the tangible. Their faith
perceived as real fact what was not revealed to their senses, and is an example
for twenty-first century Christians to emulate:
“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: 8-16)
The patriarchs lived and
died controlled and sustained by their faith, not having received the tangible
fulfillment of God’s promises, only having seen and welcomed them from a great
distance by faith. They lived their whole life acknowledging and confessing
that they were strangers and temporary residents and exiles upon the earth.
They chose to dwell in tents exemplifying the temporal mindset of their earthly
existence. The way they spoke and lived show plainly they were in search of a
fatherland -- their own country – whose builder and maker is God. If they had
allowed their mind to dwell with homesick remembrance on that country from
which they were emigrants – the world -- they would have found constant desire
and opportunity to return to it. But the truth is that they were yearning for
and aspiring to a better and more desirable country, a heavenly one – they had
set their mind on things above. For this reason God was not ashamed to be
called their God, even to be surnamed their God -- the God of Abraham, Isaac,
and Jacob -- for He has prepared a city in heaven for them.
FOR THEY WAITED EXPECTANTLY
AND CONFIDENTLY
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE CITY
WHICH HAS FIXED AND FIRM FOUNDATIONS
WHOSE
ARCHITECT AND BUILDER IS GOD
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