WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO?

BIBLE PASSAGE:
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. 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. For he was looking
forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
(Hebrews 11:8-10)

MEDITATION:
Have you ever purchased something and later discovered that it was
poorly made? If it’s something small you can return it to the store for
a replacement or a refund. If your purchase was inexpensive, then you
may just throw it away and consider it a lesson learned.

However, what if it is something expensive and non-returnable,
like a house? Someone may have assured you that the builder
was ‘top notch’, and maybe he is, but when he built your home
he wasn’t. Wouldn’t it be great if we lived in a world where
everything was always made of high quality?

Abraham looked past everything here on earth and knew that a world
of perfection did in fact exist. His confidence started with a faith in the
God he believed in. We can see his faith on display when he was called
by God to ‘go to a place’. He didn’t know where he was going, but he
knew God wanted him to go there, so he obeyed and went.

Later, we see his faith again as he made a home in the promised land
God provided. However, there is something interesting about how he
made his home there. Even though God provided the land, Abraham
was like a stranger in a foreign country. He stayed in tents, which
implies he felt he was a temporary inhabitant of the land.

What was the problem with Abraham? Couldn’t he accept the fact that
God provided the land? Couldn’t he be comfortable in feeling that he
belonged? Couldn’t he settle into a life in his new home? Why would
he feel like a foreigner in the land God provided?

In verse 10, we are given the reason for Abraham’s feelings that he
didn’t belong there. He was looking forward to his permanent home
that God had built for him. Abraham knew that in his permanent
home, he would enjoy everything of the best quality. Why? Because
all that is there was created by God, and not man.

Charles Haddon Spurgeon said:
    “May we live here like strangers and make the world not
      a house, but an inn, in which we sup and lodge, expecting
      to be on our journey tomorrow.”

Bill Bright (founder of Campus Crusade for Christ) while
fighting a terminal disease of pulmonary fibrosis, said:
    “Knowing that heaven is our real home makes it easier
      to pass through the tough times here on earth. I have
      taken comfort often in the knowledge that the perils
      of a journey on earth will be nothing compared to the
      glories of heaven.”

ACTION:
We can learn a lot from reading about the faith of Abraham.
We could ask ourselves:
    – Am I comfortable in my home and way of life,
      or am I looking forward to a much better place?
    – If the Bible included stories about my life, would the readers
      see a similar faith as Abraham’s, with an anticipation and
      expectation of a new and permanent future home?

When we look at Abraham’s faith, it started with an unquestionable
obedience. Has God called you to do something that you felt uneasy
and uncomfortable about? How did you respond? Did you obey, or
did you decide you would continue following your own desires? Are
you struggling with obedience in any area right now?

Pray,
“Heavenly Father, thank You for preparing a permanent home
for everyone who believes in You and has accepted Your gift of
salvation. Thank You for showing me the type of faith Abraham
had, and how he obeyed You, even when he didn’t fully understand
what You wanted of him. Teach me to have faith and obedience like
his. Help me to realize that everything I have on this earth is only
temporary, including my home. Remind me of the home You have
for me and create in me a desire to look forward to it, rather than
being satisfied with whatever the world has to offer. Show me how
to follow Your will and expectations of me, even when they are
confusing to me.”

BLOG: utvolwoody.wordpress.com