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Confessing the Promises of God Hebrews 11:13 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. Abraham, the father of the faithful, obeyed God when he was called to leave his home and family and journey to a land that God would show him. His journey was not without problems, but he clung to the promises of God and kept pressing on for his goal. When he arrived in Canaan, he did not possess the land, but dwelled in tents in the land of promise. He held firmly to God’s promise that his seed would be as innumerable as the sand of the sea (Gen. 22:17). Abraham obeyed when God told him to offer up his son Isaac as a sacrifice. He had confidence that God would provide Himself a lamb for a sacrifice (Gen. 22:8). Abraham was called a friend of God and his faith and obedience in offering up Isaac was counted as righteousness in the eyes of God (James 2:23). God did provide a replacement sacrifice in place of Isaac, but His promise of a lamb for a sacrifice spoke of Calvary which lay many years in the future. Jesus said that Abraham rejoiced to see His day and that he saw it and was glad (John 8:56). I believe that he saw the triumph of Calvary and that he was looking beyond the physical land of Canaan to the city that God has prepared for us all. I believe that he saw his physical seed possessing the land and his spiritual seed possessing the kingdom of God. I believe that he looked forward to the time that there would be no more, pain and suffering or death, when God Himself would wipe all tears from our eyes (Rev. 7:17, 21:4). Because Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were persuaded of the promises of God, they embraced and confessed that they were seeking a city whose builder and maker was God. They considered themselves to be pilgrims and strangers on this earth. Hebrews 11:10 For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker [is] God. The old hymn Looking For a City expresses this very well: Here among the shadows in a lonely land, We’re a band of pilgrims on the move Burdened down with sorrows shunned on every hand We’re looking for a city built above Looking for a city, where we’ll never die There the sainted millions, will never say goodbye There we’ll meet our Savior and our loved ones too Come O Holy Spirit, all our hopes renew Because of this faith and confession of the promises of God, God was not ashamed to be called their God. He will not be ashamed of us either. Jesus said that if we confess Him before men, He would confess us before the angels of God and His Father in heaven (Mt. 10;32; Luke 12:8). Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better [country], that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city. In the New Testament we see the same scenario in the lives of the apostles and the saints of the early church. Jesus appeared on the scene and said, “Follow Me,” and without question they left all and followed Him. They confessed and embraced His promises and were faithful until death, which often was the death of a martyr. After being empowered by the Holy Ghost at Pentecost, the apostles stood before the ruling councils of the day and boldly proclaimed the name of Jesus (Acts 3:16). While Stephen the first martyr was being stoned to death, he looked into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing in that glory. As he died he prayed, “Lord Jesus receive my spirit” (Acts 7:55-60). After seeing that, I doubt very much that he wanted to linger in this old world any longer. I pray that the Lord will give us all a renewed vision of what awaits us over there. They believed the words of Jesus that whoever believed in Him would never die. John 11:26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? They also believed that Jesus had gone to prepare an eternal home and that He was coming back. John 14:1 ¶ Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. We, like Abraham and the saints of the early church have been called to follow Jesus and forsake the enticements of this evil world. We confess ourselves to be pilgrims and strangers on this earth. Because we are fully persuaded of this and we conduct our lives accordingly. As we see this world engulfed in bloodshed and heading for further economic chaos, we feel a quickening of our resolve to stand on God’s Promises and to be faithful, come what may. We really don’t have any other sensible choice, do we? Free Ebooks That You Can Download. An Expository Study on the Book of Colossians The I AMs of Jesus Your thoughts and Inquiries Contact@About-Him.Com Subscribe to this devotional? Subscribe to About-Him Devotional Keep Looking Up! Don and Marie Spooner About Him! Ministries
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