Hebrews 11 - 5.21.24
SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 11:13 – 16
“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, admitting that they were foreigners 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.”
OBSERVATION: This chapter begins with a well known verse “Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.” I love how this verse so perfectly explains what faith is. The next set of verses from 2 – 12 all begin with “By faith…” and go on to reveal the faith shown by many great people in the Bible like Noah, Abraham, and Enoch. These verses explain, in depth, each person’s use of their faith and the outcome. It’s a great testimony and offers a chance to build our own faith in reading this chapter.
In verse 6, after mentioning how God took Enoch away from this life before death and notes that he was “one who pleased God”, we see how important our faith is to God. Verse 6 says “And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.” Faith is the cornerstone to our entire life as a Christian and is the hope of what God promised us after death: eternal life with Him in heaven.
Verse 13 pivots to explain the bigger picture of faith and where it leads. All of the great people of the Bible, talked about in verses 2 – 12, lived by faith yet verse 13 says “They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.” This verse might be a bit confusing and imply that after all these great men did in their faith, God did not give the things promised. God did give them the promises yet the one final promise had not been fulfilled yet. In order to really understand this, it’s important to look at this section from a heavenly view. The “things promised” is relating to what awaits them after death. They were living on earth in their faith – living as foreigners and strangers because earth is not their real home. Verse 16 says “They were longing for a better country – a heavenly one.” They had their eyes set on living in faith here on this earth, yet longing, believing and having faith that after death comes life with God in heaven. That is where the promises are fulfilled to all who believe. On top of all that, He has prepared a place for us. The second half of verse 16 says “God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.” How great it is that God is not ashamed - actually proud - to be our God AND He’s preparing a place for each of us, a home, our eternal resting place. How sweet!!! I don’t know about you, but that is another faith builder of the heart.
APPLICATION: Our faith, just like the ones of those mentioned in this chapter, is a journey that is built stronger when living our life for God. Each day, event, prayer and reading of God’s word is an opportunity to grow our faith. As our faith grows stronger and deeper, our view of this world becomes clearer: This world is not our home. When our focus is on things in heaven and not on this earth, everything changes. Our view of relationships changes, how we deal with situations change, and how we view circumstances will change. Our life focus is best set vertically to heaven rather than horizontally on this earth.
The bottom line is our hope and promise, the foundation of our faith, is nothing that we gain on earth or based on this world. Colossians 3:1-4 says it best:
1 If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.
PRAYER: Lord, I believe in you, trust you, and only want your will to be done. Thank you, Lord, for your promise of heaven and eternity with you. Help my faith to grow deeper and deeper each day. Help me to live my daily life with a heavenly view so that each event, circumstance, and relationship reflect your glory. I pray that every aspect of my life reflects you and helps lead others to you and grow their faith. Amen!
- Mary Oberg
