• Tag Archives Abraham
  • Just For Pilgrims And Others -180 – “Just how contagious is our faith?”

    “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of [them], and embraced [them], and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Heb.11:13)
    All of us have made promises that, at one time or another, we failed to keep them. On the other hand, how far superior are the promises of God! In the passage, preceding the above verse, we discovered that God promised Abraham and his descendents a land but was that all. Jesus said, “Your father Abraham rejoiced to see my day: and he saw [it], and was glad.” (Jn.8:56)
    God’s promises to Abraham were miraculous in themselves! One would think that most would have been content by grabbing a chunk of land but not so. The impression of God’s words to Abraham were so strong that not only did he look for God’s city (vs.10) and the Messiah but also they had the same affect on his descendants for the rest of their lives. My dear friends, that is something! Secondly, God’s promises changed everyone’s view of themselves. They mirrored that they were “strangers” and “pilgrims” i.e. they viewed themselves as not being a natural born citizen of the land and could live along side of the inhabitants without becoming part of them.
    In summary, consider the work of Christ, “But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.”(Heb. 8:6) Although Abraham’s convictions were highly contagious, how much stronger ours should be! True Christians have encountered the Messiah and the eternal indwelling Spirit assures us of arriving in His celestial city one day!
    We all need to examine ourselves – just how contagious is our faith?

     


  • “What Drives Us”

    (Heb.11:8-10) “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. 9 By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.”
    In Hebrews we find a short overview of the “by faith” in Abrahams life. Less than a minute to read the verses reflect a lifetime to be lived. Some optional thoughts pop out to us. Abraham so clearly heard from God at the beginning that Gods presence and promises led him until his dying day. In addition, his endurance and obedience reflected the God he believed was the one and only true God.
    The above verses give us insight that Abraham was a true pilgrim on a journey. Although he and his family spent a lifetime wandering in God’s Promised Land, Abraham died never finding the one thing God promised – “…a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God.” The moment Abraham passed from life he walked through a gate of God’s city!
    My dear friends, all of us know people that are knowledgeable of our lives but please keep in mind, as time passes the crowds grow smaller and their knowledge diminishes. Just like Abraham, we should desire that until our dying day, people, strangers or friends, should see in us our obedience to God, our individual devotion to Him, and the assurance that, we too, just like Abraham, will enter God’s promised and prepared city for us! What drives our lives is far more important than what we acquire in life. With Abraham, it was his relationship and fellowship from God, and that city.   What drives us?