These all died in faith, not having
received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from
afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on
the earth. Heb. 11:13
They
died without seeing what they had believed for. These people were not
walking by sight, their eyes were set on the promise of God. Even when
death was imminent and the promise was not evident, they believed till
they died. Dying, they retained their confession of faith, even though
it seemed evident that what they believed for was not physically
manifest. What a faith!
Like
Abraham, these people were looking for a city with foundations whose
maker and builder is God, and when they did not see it here, they knew
that it was ahead of them in the eternal future, therefore, the thought
of going back never entered their hearts because they were not looking
for anything that had its origin in the earth.
But
what are you looking for? Does its foundation have its origin in the
earth? If it does, then, when it does not seem as though it will come,
the prospect of returning to the world is high because what you are
looking for is here. But if what you are looking for is a what its
foundation and maker is God, then, you can keep believing to the end
even if you do not see it here.
For
people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.
If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out,
they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they
desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Heb. 11:14-16
Toni
