Bible Reading: Numbers 14; Psalm 50; Isaiah 3 & 4; Hebrews 11
But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. (Hebrews 11:16)
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews is called the faith chapter. In it God points us to many of the heroes of the faith. It speaks of Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham and Sarah as well as many other Old Testament believers who believed God and were rewarded for their faith. They received promises from God and believed them, however they all died in faith not having received the promises. The time was not right. God's plan was bigger than their life span on earth!
You and I are closer to the promises being fulfilled than any of them were! They lived confessing that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth (Hebrews 11:13). A stranger is someone who is from another country. A pilgrim is someone who leaves their land looking for a new promised land. Is that how you live?
Do you desire a better country? Do you live looking forward to what our elected officials and powerful men will one day make of this country? There is all the difference in the world in these two views. If you live for this world you will invest in it. If you live for that heavenly country, you will invest in it. What does Jesus say?
Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)
Many people are secret worshippers of God but they have a hard time openly talking about him. Have you ever thought that God might be ashamed to be called their God? Those people who live for this life and invest in this world are not truly reflecting the image of God into it. They are lulled to sleep by the never ending promises of a Utopia that government will one day make.
But for those who live for that better, heavenly country God has prepared for them a city. This is the promise of Jesus:
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3)
Live for that prepared city and invest in heaven! The commodity of heaven is relationships – build some ETERNAL ones today.
In Christ,
Rody
