Hebrews 11:13-16, “These all died in faith, not having received the promise, but having seen them a far off, and were persuaded of them and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not a shamed to be called their God: for he has prepared for them a city”
This passage of Scripture refers to the O.T saints who died with the faith that God had something better for them in store. What concerned them most was not when the promises were to be fulfilled but what they had to do in order to receive the promise.
They were concerned also about the correct paths or ways they were to take to lead them to the promises in the now and then life. In their lifetime, they did not see the final promised blessing of the redeemed. Their primary hope was for was eternal life with God in a heavenly homeland (Where there is true homeland eternal security). They fixed their eyes on the new citizenship in the new heaven and new earth. See Isaiah 65:17 and Philippians 3:20 and Revelation 21:1.
The believers of today must likewise perceive correctly in faith their life’s destination and persevere in faith and trust in God, even when they do not see all the promises of God fulfilled in their lives. Believers must be ready and allow God to test their faith. For faith that cannot be tested cannot be trusted. On the long life’s journey to the destinations God has determined for us, one thing is critical, if we are to reach the destinations: and that is having correct map. A map is simply what shows the right way of getting to a destination from the point where one is. A map is about a territory. It is not the territory. It shows points and locations in the territory. Christians are citizens of two territories: the earth, where we live right now and the heavenly kingdom where we are headed. On earth, we are called pilgrims or strangers or sojourners. In other words, we don’t belong here permanently. Our permanent citizenship is heaven. But while we are here, on a journey, we have dreams, goals, wishes, hopes and desires which we would like to achieve, acquire or reach. And, it is in God’s best interest that we successfully reach the destinations. These things are in the territory of life. Do you know where they are? Do you know how to get there? Can you be able to tell when you arrive or whether you should still be on the road? These are important questions to ask on your way to your destiny. Faith is wonderful and you cannot do without it. But accurate roadmap is crucial. The Word of God is your accurate roadmap. It must be studied, correctly interpreted, understood and correctly applied. God has given the directions to all you could ever need or desire, in The Word. Use it. Don’t’ depend on your own knowledge or experience or assumptions, for direction. Worse still, do not depend on others who don’t have the correct map, don’t know the way and yet are always trying to give directions. Faith, correct perception of where you are headed and perseverance will lead you to receiving the promise. “Seek you first the Kingdom of God and all these other things shall be added unto you” Be independent most of the time; dependant on others sometimes; but, depend on God all the time for direction, strength to persevere and faith to receive the promise. Avoid any misguiding direction or information. Then, like the O.T saints, you will embrace the promises even if you don’t receive them.
“It is the way we “see” the world-not in terms of our visual sense of sight, but in terms of perceiving, understanding, interpreting, in light of God’s Word (which is what faith is) that determines how we choose paths that lead us to our desired destination” Blessings Boaz
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He Has Magnified His Word 