What do you long for? What is it in this life that holds you back from so much more?

 

READ: Hebrews 11

 

Hebrews 11:16

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)

 

• “They” = old testament saints
• They all longed for something more – a heavenly place
• “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (v. 1)
• “Without faith it is impossible to please God” (V. 6)
• They were all commended for their faith (V. 39)
• Yet none of them received what they were promised during their life time (V. 39)
• Together with us they were made perfect (V. 40)
• “God is not ashamed to be called their God” (V. 16)
• He has prepared a great city for them and us (Rev. 21)

APPLICATION:

• We should all be longing for heaven
• We should all share this kind of faith
• He has prepared a city for all who have faith in Him.

This week I had the incredible privilege to go and stay in Sedona with my wife for a few days. It is one of our favorite places to go and visit. We love the sights of all of the red rock formations. We are always amazed at God’s creation when hiking and exploring the trails and back roads of Sedona. Many marvel at man’s creations, whether they be skyscrapers or fast cars, but I am far more amazed at God’s creation.

 

The one place that God has created that will be far more beautiful and magnificent is his heaven. Heaven is described for us in Revelation 20-21: A river, clear as crystal, will flow from the throne of God and of the Lamb [Jesus] down the middle of the city. On each side of the river there will be a tree of life, yielding twelve kinds of fruit every month. The streets will be pure gold, like transparent glass. The walls of the city will be adorned with every kind of jewel, emerald, onyx, amethyst, topaz, etc. There will be no need for a sun or moon, and no need for a temple or church. The presence of the Lord will be its light.[i] Nothing that we can see or experience will compare with it.

 

The Old Testament saints looked forward to it, and anticipated being able to see it. Hebrews 11 commemorates them for their faith. Their faith longed for what they could not see, but still believed in its existence.

 

Warren Wiersbe describes faith for us:

True Bible faith is not blind optimism or a manufactured “hope-so” feeling. Neither is it an intellectual assent to a doctrine. It is certainly not believing in spite of evidence! That would be superstition. True Bible faith is confident obedience to God’s Word in spite of circumstances and consequences.[ii]

 

This is the kind of faith that we should all strive for. We should long for His appearing and for this heavenly place that God has prepared for us. Jesus Himself said that He was going to prepare a place for us (Jn. 14:1-4). Anything that this world has to offer is nothing in comparison. All the Father asks for is our faith in what we can not see, and that we would demonstrate our faith by our obedience to His word.

 

Don’t get me wrong. I love to visit Sedona, Zion National Park, Yosemite, and many other places. But they are nothing compared to what God has in store for us!

 

What are you longing for? Streets of gold then or bags of gold now?

 

Ask God to help you to be content with what you have, and not to long for earthly things. Pray that He would give you the faith that you need for this life, and a longing for the one to come.

 

Each week’s Monday Motivation is taken from the reading schedule found in the Life Journal. If you are ready for the next step in your discipleship, then order yours today or see me for a copy.

www.lifejournal.cc

 

If you would like help in growing in your faith, or if you would like to know how to have faith in Him, then please contact us at (928)636-2949 or email me at pastorguy@cvgrace.com

 

 

 

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[i] Taken from www.everystudent.com/forum/heaven2

[ii] Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 317). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.