Keep my Focus on the Gate

Hebrews 11-Part 9
All these died in faith, without receiving the promises, but having seen them and having welcomed them from a distance, and having confessed that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.  Hebrews 11:13  NAS
These all died in faith, not having recived 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. KJV


LET IT GLOW

One summer we took a trip with our son and daughter inlaw, to visit our daughter and son inlaw.
We flew by airplane that time. Due to a delay in the first leg of the trip, we hit the ground running through the terminal to catch our connecting flight. During the jog, we heard our names called for us to board. We kept our focus on the gate through which we were to board the plane.  Everyone was on the plane, waiting for us so it could take off. Whew! We did make it in time. Surprisingly enough, our luggage made it to our destination with us. We had a great visit, inspite of the hectic beginning. In the same way, I need to keep my focus on heaven as I walk this road of faith.

These Patriarchs, which included Abel, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah all died without having received the promises. (Enoch was translated, without dying, went directly to heaven.) They moved through the desert headed toward the Promised Land, but never settled there.  However, they had faith that pleased God. How? By faith:

• Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice;
• Enoch was translated;
• Noah built an ark;
• Abraham went out into a place he should afterwards receive;
• Abraham sojourned in the land of promise;
• Abraham offered up Isaac;
• Sarah bare Isaac.

The chief end of man is 'to please God.' (Charles Spurgeon)
They were looking for a better country, a heavenly one. (verse 16)
Their faith was looking for a Savior, whereas, our faith believes there  was a Jesus, the Savior who died on the cross and rose from the grave.
With eyes of faith, they saw "from a distance" the promise of God's redemption and greeted it, remaining essentially "strangers... on the earth." Shepherd's Notes

So when each one died, they received the promise, heaven, because of their faith in God.
Don't we admire the faith of the patriarchs? They didn't have the complete Bible like we do, yet their faith stayed strong. In spite of their faillures and testings, these believed God. He bore witness to their faith.Shouldn't we have even more faith?

LET IT GROW

Looking at our key verse; there are some verbs that stand out:
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but

• having seen
• having welcomed, persuaded means to be induced to believe, to have faith;
• having confessed, embraced means to receive joyfully

that they were  strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
How about our walk of faith today?
Is my hope in the vision beyond the present?
Is my pursuit in cultivating my identity with God?
Am I willing to release all earthly ties?
Do I desire, yearn for a godly life-style?
Remember, God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He prepared a city for them.
In the same application, God isn't ashamed to be called Linda's God; He has prepared a city for her.It's an eternal city that will last forever.

LET IT GO

Keep my spiritual bags packed, ready to fly to heaven when my name is called to go.

Keep my focus on the gate of heaven.

Keep running to Jesus.

Keep the faith.