Hebrews 11:13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 1 4People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them -NIV
Title: Living By Faith in A Heavenly Country
Intro: Our country finds itself in the midst of problems and turmoil! (Pandemic, social injustice, economic woes, etc.) What the heroes of the faith teach us is that we are to not fixate on an earthly, but a heavenly country. They teach us the principals of “living by faith” which are:
I. Living by Faith, understands first of all that the promises of God, and the life of faith is built upon, not so much the here and now, but rather the here-after!
Hebrews 11:13a All these people (that we have considered thus far in this study- Abel, and Enoch, and Noah, and Abraham and Sarah) were still living by faith when they died.
A) Point?
1. Their faith didn’t end at the grave, it was intended to take them beyond the grave!
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
a) This is an elementary idea regarding what living by faith is about!
Hebrews 11:1a Now faith is the substance of things hoped for,
Romans 8:24b Who hopes for what they already have? 25 But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently
Q: What were Abel, and Enoch, and Noah, and Abraham and Sarah waiting patiently for?
Hebrews 11:13b They did not receive the things promised;
Q: What were the things ultimately promised?
Hebrews 11:16b a better country-a heavenly one
2. Point of this?
a) I think of a song…
This world is not my home
I'm just a-passing through
My treasures are laid up
Somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me
From heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home
In this world anymore.
Oh Lord, you know
I have no friend like you
If heaven's not my home
Then Lord what will I do.
The angels beckon me
From heaven's open door
And I can't feel at home
In this world anymore.
3. Their perspective?
Hebrews 11:13c admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.
Harry Blamires, in his classic book, The Christian Mind. He writes, “A prime mark of the Christian mind is that it cultivates the eternal perspective. That is to say, it looks beyond this life to another one” (p. 67).
a) We have largely lost this in contemporary evangelicalism. For too many believers our focus has become that of this world: What can Jesus do for me in the here and now? Heaven is nice and hell must be terrible, but those aren’t matters of concern for the present. We have lost the eternal perspective!
John MacArthur- I remember watching in horror and disgust as angry mobs swept through Los Angeles, killing people and setting thousands of buildings on fire. Under the cover of chaos, countless people ransacked and looted every store in sight. I saw entire families—moms, dads, and little children—loading their cars and trucks with anything they could steal. That was the most graphic demonstration of lawlessness I’ve ever seen. It was as if they were saying, “I’m not satisfied with the way life’s treating me, so I’m entitled to grab everything I can—no matter who gets hurt in the process.” Perhaps we don’t realize how selfish and restless the human heart can be until the restraints of law and order are lifted and people can do whatever they want without apparent consequences. Then suddenly the results of our godless “me first” society are seen for what they are. Instant gratification at any cost has become the motto of the day. That’s in stark contrast to people of faith like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who trusted in God even when their circumstances were less than they might have expected. God promised them a magnificent land, but they never possessed it. They were, in fact, strangers and refugees in their own land. But that didn’t bother them because they looked forward to a better place—a heavenly city.
4. That is why Paul wrote…
Colossians 3:1 Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature:
5. The Christian view is:
Ephesians 1:13b . When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,( YOU WERE SEALED IN HIM WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT OF PROMISE) 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory.
6. What is the inheritance?
1Peter 1:4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you
7. HEAVEN!
II. Living by faith in a heavenly country is not only a conviction that the promises of God are not about the here and now, but it is also a confession!
Hebrews 11:13c confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.-NKJV
A) Who confessed it?
1. Well Abraham did, didn’t he when he said:
Genesis 23:3 Then Abraham rose from beside his dead wife and spoke to the Hittites. He said, 4 “I am a foreigner and stranger among you. Sell me some property for a burial site here so I can bury my dead.”
2. Jacob did:
Genesis 47: 7 Then Joseph brought in his father Jacob and set him before Pharaoh; and Jacob)blessed Pharaoh. 8 Pharaoh said to Jacob, “How old are you?” 9 And Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The days of the years of my pilgrimage are one hundred and thirty years; few and evil have been the days of the years of my life,….
a) He identified himself as a pilgrim…
Pilgrim - pa?ep?d?µ?? -parepidemos
1. Pilgrim – one who comes from a foreign country into a city or land to reside there by the side of the natives of that land.
2. a stranger -sojourning in a strange place, a foreigner
3. Asaph did in the 119th Psalm when he wrote…
Psalm 119:19 I am a stranger in the earth; Do not hide Your commandments from me.
4. Peter did…
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I urge you as aliens and strangers to abstain from fleshly lusts which wage war against the soul.
a) Who is he writing this to?
1 Peter 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen
B) Some translations put it this way:
To the elect sojourners – BLB
To those who reside as aliens, -NASB
To God's chosen people who live as refugees - GNT
b) Christians!
i. Who confess this…
Hebrews 11:14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
Q: What does he mean by this?
Ray Pritchard- I think this means that Noah told everyone why he was building the ark, even though he knew they would think he was nuts. And I think Abraham told everyone who asked why he was leaving Ur of the Chaldees for parts unknown. Living by faith means telling others who ask, “This is why I’m doing what I’m doing,” even though you know they will not understand. It means speaking up for God at work, in your classroom, in your neighborhood, and at your family reunion even though you know some people will laugh at you.
A W Tozer - If we are genuine, committed Christians, intent upon walking by faith with our Lord Jesus Christ, then we are continually confessing that we are pilgrims and that we are strangers! The Holy Spirit, who is the real author of this Letter to the Hebrews, uses the terms pilgrims and strangers to remind the early Christians that they were not yet at their final home. The message still reads the same today. Christian pilgrims are journeying by faith from an old city that is cursed and under threat of judgment to a blessed and celestial city where dwells Immanuel!
ii. And then the Holy Spirit says…
Hebrews 11:15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
Q:What does that mean?
a. Abraham could have gone back to Ur
b. Noah could have stopped building the ark
c. Enoch could have stopped walking with God
d. Nothing stood between them doing so, but one this – their faith
Q: What kind of faith was it?
Hebrews 11:16a Instead, they were longing (thirsting, yearning, pining) for a better country
III. Living by faith in a heavenly country is not only a conviction of it, and a confession of it but it is also a CRAVING for it!
A) Perspective by Ian Paisley regarding Abel:
Ian Paisley - Do you see Abel? I see him. He is standing at the gate of Eden. The cherubim's sword touches the lamb which he is offering, and the fire consumes the sacrifice. Many times Abel stands there and looks into the Paradise which is lost. He longs to get into that Paradise again. But God says, "I have a better Paradise for you. I have a better place for you than that. I am going to transfer that tree of life from Eden into Heaven."
Ian Paisley – Oh yes, and there is a day coming, you read about it in the Revelation, when there is a better country, that great City where the tree of life grows in the midst of the Paradise of God. "Abel, I have a better country for you. Not Eden, it is the Eden above. Not an earthly garden, but rather the City of God."
Ian Paisley – I am glad I am not going to be here forever. Some day I will finish the course. Some day, please God, I will fight the last battle and I will have run my race. God will then say, "Come up higher," and the Lord will say "Welcome home." What a better country we are going to. They will never mutilate the hillsides of Glory with the gravedigger's spake. No hospitals yonder. No shrouds or coffins there. No pain or aches. No death dew or death rattles. Praise God it is a better country.
B) Bottom Line?
1. It is a better country because it is a..
Hebrews 11:16b -a heavenly one.
2. What country could be better than Heaven?
And….finally
IV. Living by faith in a heavenly country is not only a conviction and a confession , but it is also a CRAVING for it, because we are CITIZENS of it!
Heb 12:23 – (We are) to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
And because our names are written there….
Philippians 3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
In other words our home is in heaven, but while we are here on earth we are simply a colony of heavenly citizens.
You know what a colony is? Colony is a group of people of one nationality that are living in a foreign city or country while yet remaining under the governmental control of their native country .
They bring their culture, their customs, their language, to this foreign land they find themselves in, but they are still under the control of their native county!
V. Living by faith in a heavenly country is not only a conviction and a confession of it , a CRAVING for , because we are CITIZENS of it, but it is also living presently in a foreign land under the COMMANDMENTS of it, which is too seek the Benefit of that foreign land!
A) I can give you several examples in both old and new testament:
1. Jeremiah – You see the Principle?
Jeremiah 29: 4 Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all who were carried away captive, whom I have caused to be carried away from Jerusalem to Babylon
Jeremiah 29: 7 And seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, (E)and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace.
2. NT - by Jesus himself
Mark 12: 13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?” But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?” “Caesar’s,” they replied.17a Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s….
3. Peter also:
1 Peter 2: 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.
1 Peter 2: 13 Therefore submit yourselves to every [c]ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake, whether to the king as supreme, 14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good. 15 For this is the will of God, For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men— 16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God. 17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.
a. THAT IS HOW A KINGDOM CITIZEN IS COMMANDED TO CONDUCT THEMSELVES!
4. Paul also:
Titus 3:1 3 Remind the people to be subject to rulers and authorities, to be obedient, to be ready to do whatever is good,
Close:
VI. Living by faith in the promise of a better country a heavenly one, is ultimately the only way that I can please God!
Hebrews 11:14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them -NIV
Q: Isn’t that an amazing statement?
GOD CAN BE ASHAMED OF BELIEVERS!
Luke 9:26 Whoever is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.
Yes, I think He can be, in the one who gets to caught up in things and the politics of this world! Who think that God should fix it, when in fact he has promised a day in which he would replace it!
Isaiah 9: 6 For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
7 Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
John 18: 36 Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.”
Do you know Christ as king?
Do you long for a better country -a heavenly one?
Are you truly "Living by Faith?"
