Following In the Footsteps of Faith
ABRAHAM GATHERED TO HIS PEOPLE
Genesis 25:5-10
Intro: These verses record the end of a great life! Abraham was taken from among a pagan people and made the Father of the Faithful. He was taught the harsh lessons of faith and obedience. He suffered for God and he enjoyed the best God had to offer. In the end, his life is concluded by the words "and was gathered to his people."
As I consider the life of this great man, I realize that there are certain characteristics that were present in his life that need to be found in us as well this morning. I would like to point out just a few of those characteristics as we conclude our study of this great man of faith. As we come to the end of this study and to the end of Abraham’s life, I see some similarities with what could have been said about him and what might be said about us when we too leave this world. These similarities are made clear by the characteristics I want to point out this morning. So, lets take some time to look into the Word of God, and consider this thought, "Abraham: Gathered to His People."
READ TEXT
When someone dies, three things usually come up at some point during a discussion of the deceased individual’s life. Those three things are: 1.) How they lived their life; 2.) Some of the events surrounding their death; and 3.) Where did they stand with the Lord. These are the three characteristics I want to talk about this morning.
I. HOW HE LIVED HIS LIFE
A. It Was A Life Of Faith
• One of the clearest and most striking things about Abraham’s life is how he lived everyday and took every step by faith in God.
o His faith was not declared by him, but it was declared years later by the writer of the book of Hebrews - Heb. 11:8.
• This is the kind of life that God wants everyone of His children to live.
o If the people of God could ever learn to let go of their lives and leave them in the hands of the Lord, it would revolutionize our lives and forever end the struggles we have with worry and fear.
• Faith is not just for the super saint, it is for all believers. Even you!
B. It Was A Life Of Following
• Heb. 11:9 tells us that the life of Abraham was one lived in the acts of following.
o Wherever the Lord pointed him, that was the direction he took.
o It would seem that Abraham had no life of his own, but that his life was one totally given over to the will of the Lord.
• A life spent following the Lord is a life that will always end up in the right place!
o Why, you may ask?
o When He leads the destination is assured!
C. It Was A Life Of Favor
• Because Abraham walked in faith and followed the Lord regardless of where He led him, God abundantly blessed the life of this amazing man.
o He blessed him financially, militarily, physically, spiritually and He blessed Abraham’s family as well.
o Of course, this had been the oft repeated promise that Abraham had been given by the Lord.
o God had promised to bless him and God did just that!
• I can guarantee you that a life lived for the Lord, is a life that will not lack blessing!
o He may not bless you in the ways you want Him too, but I can guarantee you that He will bless your life in the ways that matter the most!
• It is worthy noting how the life of Abraham fleshed out the list of graces that are to characterize those who believe in the Christian virtues found in 2 Peter 1:5-11.
o He had all of these great virtues in his life and it proved that a work of grace had been done in his heart!
o By the way, we are to be abounding in these things as well!
o When we have them in our lives in abundance:
they make us fruitful, v. 8
they give us assurance of our salvation, v. 9
they help prevent us from falling, v. 10
they give us a glorious entrance into the kingdom, v. 11.
II. HOW HE LAID DOWN HIS LIFE
In his life, Abraham was a wonderful example of what a believer should be, but even in his dying there are precious truths that can be seen in him that should mark all those who know the Lord Jesus!
A. He Laid It Down With Readiness – (v. 8)
• There was no struggling to stay, but a simple releasing of life when it came time to go.
o He had lived a full and long life, 175 years, but when the time came to make the crossing, Abraham did so with grace and serenity.
• You may ask yourselves, Why was he able to do it so easily?
o Because he had spent his life looking for a particular city.
o Not a city that can be found on this earth, but an everlasting city made by the hands of God in Heaven.
• Abraham knew that Sarah was waiting on him on the other side.
o He knew that the only way to reach that city and to be with Sarah again was to let go.
• Everyone in this room at some point or another has thought about that day, when it will be our turn to go.
o It isn’t something we discuss, but it does come to mind from time to time!
o I have noted that the passing years seem to bring the thought around more often.
o However, those who know the Lord have a great assurance when we look at the day of our departure!
o We have the Lord’s promise concerning that day.
For us, it will be a time of laying aside the temporary for the permanent.
It will be a time of leaving the land of the dying to enter the land of the living.
It will be a time of passing through the veil to stand in the presence of the Lord Himself.
It will be nothing more than a "departure", from this life and an entrance into a new and better life in that same city Abraham looked for.
o Abraham knew it before there was even a Bible from which to read it!
o He knew it by faith and so do I!
o How about you?
B. He Laid It Down With Reassurance
• The Bible tells us that he was "gathered to his people."
o This does not have reference to the grave!
o No, he was buried with Sarah in Canaan.
o His people had died in Haran and Ur.
• Abraham was gathered to those who had died before him in faith!
o He went to that place where those died in faith were waiting for him.
• When Jesus died on the cross, He ascended into Paradise with the glorious news that redemption had been purchased for all those who had died in faith!
o With that news, He lead them out of Paradise and into Heaven in a glorious parade of triumph and victory!
o Somehow, Abraham knew this by faith!
• You and I have a better assurance that even Abraham had!
o He was to go to Paradise to stay until the price was paid.
o Neither he, nor anyone else, knew how long that would be!
o They were looking forward to that event.
• We look backward at that event this morning!
o It is finished!
o The way is opened and all those who died in faith are immediately gathered home to the presence of the Lord in Heaven!
III. HOW HE LOVED HIS LORD
A third characteristic of Abraham’s life that is worthy of note is how he loved the Lord.
A. His Love Was Displayed
• All through his life, he simply obeyed what the Lord told him to do!
o When the Lord said go, he went.
o When the Lord said do, he did.
o When the Lord said stay, he stayed.
o He obeyed even when the command was difficult and costly.
o He obeyed when every instinct within him told him to do the opposite.
• You see, the true essence of love for the Lord is that genuine love always manifests itself in obedience to God, regardless of what He says to do!
• We can say anything we wish about the level of our love for Him, but the ultimate expression of our love for Jesus will be found in how we obey Him in whatever He tells us to do!
B. His Love Was Declared
• As you read the Bible, you see the love of Abraham declared.
o But, it is never declared by Abraham!
o Isn’t that strange?
• There are a lot of people who want to tell us how much they love the Lord.
o Abraham didn’t talk about it, he just did it!
o There is a big difference!
• However, the love of Abraham is declared in the Bible.
o It is mentioned by a man named Jehoshaphat in 2 Chr. 20:7.
o God Himself talks of this man Abraham and his love for the Lord in Isa. 41:8.
o Both of these references refer to Abraham as being a "friend" of the Lord.
• You may wonder how I can make the leap from Abraham being called a friend of God to his love for the Lord.
o The answer lies in what Jesus said in John 15:14 and in John 14:15.
Taken together, those two passages tell us that one who is God’s friend in one who is obedient to the Lord.
And, those who walk in obedience are those who really love Him!
Closing As you consider these characteristics from the life of Abraham, I wonder how your life measures up. How is your life being lived? Are you ready to lay it down the right way when the time comes? Do you really love the Lord this morning?
These are extremely important questions that need to be addressed in your life and mine. I don’t want to be Abraham, but I do want you to look at those areas in our life that could be changed to line up more clearly with what God found pleasing in his life. We should all want to glean the best of Abraham’s characteristics and make them true in our own lives as well!
