This list of the Faith All-Stars continues:
“By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Heb 11:8-10).
When he was called by God, Abraham went out on the promise of God to receive an inheritance, but he had no other direction and lived in tents in the land of God’s promise. His calling led him to believe by faith that God would design and build a city with foundations, that is, permanence.
“By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised. Therefore from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the starts of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore” (Heb 11:11-12).
Even more astonishing than the promise made to Abraham was the promise made to Sarah, who considered it so outrageous that she actually mocked God at first. But God did not punish her lack of faith and gave her the gift of life in her womb, delivered by Abraham, who was past the age of death for a normal person.
“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. 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 the 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 11:13-16).
Do you feel sometimes like a stranger and exile on this earth? Do you sense that there is something more?
If you read and believe the Bible, there is! It is the promise of the New Jerusalem that will descend when Jesus returns. A city prepared by God for you. This city will be eternal and indestructible, and believers in Jesus will be rulers in this city in perfect unity with God, Jesus, the angels, and all those who have gone before us.
Sadly, those who do not believe in Jesus will not be there.
If you have never looked at it this way, make a decision as to whether you want to return to where you came from – sinful planet – or go on to a better country – a heavenly one. The former choice is easy, but deadly in disunity from God. The latter choice takes rock solid faith, but brings joy we cannot even imagine.
Abraham and Sarah were just the beginning of the journey of faith without physical evidence. Hurry back for Part 3 and the faith exhibited by Abraham’s family!