Where's the Map?

Hebrews 11-Part 7
For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.  
 Hebrews 11:10

Background:
Abram's name was changed to Abraham (Gen. 17:5), which meant "father of nations."He was the  tenth descendent of Noah. His Grandfather was Nahor and father was Terah. Abram had two brothers named Nahor and Haran, who had Lot. Abraham's father served other gods, yet God chose Abraham anyway. (Joshua 24:2) Abraham is known as the "friend of God," which caused the Hebrews to boast in their herritage. He was age 75 when God came to him in Ur and issued the challenge and had a wife, Sarai,  who was affected, also. Abraham was rich in flocks, silver, and gold; he had servants, too.


LET IT GLOW

Verse 16 says 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.

God referred to Himself as "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" in Genesis 28:13, Exodus 3:6, and Matthew 22:32. This is a significant covenant formula whereby an individual or a people identified with God and He with them.

"God shows His affection for them by preparing for them a city," said Adam Clarke.
Of course, we know that city was located in heaven, an eternal city, the New Jerusalem. It was a permanent and eternal home. Its builder and maker is God.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the Patriarchs, did not receive the Promised Land as their inheritance, where they actually lived (Acts 7:4). It was their descendents who lived there. Joshua 13 tells of the distribution of the Promised Land among the twelve tribes of Israel.

What is this city, Promised Land like? Hebrews 11:13 says:
*The Patriarchs didn't receive the country of their own for which they were looking.
*They were living by faith when the died.
*They saw and welcomed the things promised from a distance.
*They longed for a better country-a heavenly one.
*They looked for a city which had foundations. Tents don't have foundations.
*They looked for a city whose builder and maker is God.
*Their ultimate Promised Land is heaven.
*The city is called Mt. Zion, the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. (Hebrews 12:22)
*It's called an enduring city, the city to come (Heb. 13:14).
*Revelation 21 describes such a beautiful city.
*By faith, Abraham expected that city; so he never returned to Ur, not even to Haran. (Falwell)

Am I prepared to go to such a glorious city? He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I (God) will be his God, and he shall be my son. (Rev. 21:7)

God wasn't ashamed to be called their God. He adopted Abraham and his family as His children.
What were some promises that God gave to Abraham? Genesis 12 tells us about these promises of blessings were:
(1) a land, (a great nation)
(2) a seed, (a great name and huge family/family of faith)
(3) be a blessing (to others of faith).

Am I resting on the promises of God? Does my life make Him ashamed to call me His child?


LET IT GROW

My family has done a lot of traveling during our soon to be 40 years together. Most of the time we tried to avoid the big cities and traffic by taking the bypass around them. Such was the case of Memphis, Knoxville, and Nashville on our trip to Rhode Island to visit our daughter and her family. However, on that same trip I was navigating using two maps and didn't bypass Louisville, Kentucky. We ended up downtown some way or other. What a mess for us to get out of there. (One good thing that came out of it-we drove by the basketball arena. Arkansas and Louisville colleges are often in the playoffs against each other.) Finally, my husband pulled the car over, asked,"Where's the map?" and rescued us from the big city.
Abraham was given instructions to leave his homeland and family and go to a place that God would lead him to, but he didn't have a map.

Chapter 11 tells us some things Abraham did:

• He obeyed when he was called from his ancestral homeland to leave.
• He didn't know where He was going, just followed God's leading. (verse 8) There was no map or picture of where he was going, nor the outcome of the journey. Abraham would received the land as an inheritance.
• He lived in tents so the family could be ready to move when God said.
• He sojourned the the land of promise, a strange country, as aliens, strangers, pilgrims.
• He looked for a city with foundations, whose architect, builder, and owner is God. 
• He was enable to become a father, even at age 100. He didn't know how God's will would be accomplished.
• He offered his son Isaac, the son of the promise, as a sacrifice. He didn't know why God wanted this to happen, but when Abraham's faith was tested and tried, he obeyed with exceptional faith. He believed that God could raise his son from the dead. (Gen.22)

He believed in the Lord and God counted it to him for righteousness. (Gen. 15:6). As Christians, we consider Abraham as our "father in the faith." He received justification by faith, not works.

Now if you have ever read and studied about Abraham, you know that he wasn't perfect. He stumbled and sinned like I do and like you do. God gave him a second and third chance to obey and follow Him. I'm glad He gives me another chance when I fail.

Charles Stanley said, "The walk of faith is into the unknown. It is a call into seperation. Step out of you comfort zone. We can miss out on God's best because we won't let go. The call of God always includes the promise of blessing. Our idea of security is a distorted idea. We're shortsighted. The walk of faith will involve testing and trials. We can respond in two ways: focus on Christ and obey Him or react to fear and try to work things out ourselves. Taking your focus off God will get you into trouble. In obedience we're able to enjoy the best that God has to offer."


LET IT GO

• When God calls, I want to obey and faithfully follow Him.
• Seperate myself when God tells me to do it.
• Step out of my comfort zone.
• Realize that I am a stranger and pilgrim on earth. This world isn't my home; I'm just traveling through. (verse 13)
• Don't expect details or to have my life mapped out; live by faith.
• Be ready to move whenever God says it's time to move.
• Keep my eyes of faith focused on heaven and that beautiful city prepared for me in which to live forever.
• Let go of ...
• Trust God for miracles.
• Make sacrifices when needful to accomplish God's purposes.

Isn't that the way I want to be, but I am working on it. By faith Linda...