A BETTER COUNTRY

A BETTER COUNTRY

Whoever wrote the book of Hebrews certainly had a good understanding of God's plan for His followers. The writer used a few terms to explain God's intent in a way that we can readily grasp with clarity.

In recalling the Heroes of Faith, (chapter 11) Abraham is used to demonstrate a blind obedience to the command of God. We also see the results of God revealing Himself to a man. A REVELATION of the SPIRIT imparts a knowledge to the soul and mind of a person.

Hebrews 11:8 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as [in] a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which HATH FOUNDATIONS, whose builder and maker [is] God.

Abraham had, by the Spirit, caught a vision of an Eternal City (one that had FOUNDATIONS). There are no cities of this world which will make the transition into the Eternal World, because they are all builded by man. They (everything we can see) all are to perish with the world. We can not trust in any government (city), nor in anything that pertains to them. All that we see and handle is temporal.

Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.

Each of us needs to ask ourselves, "Where have I put my confidence, what am I putting my trust in?" If it is fastened on anything which this world has or can produce, we are in deep trouble.

It is only natural for us to want to be located in a good neighborhood, near good schools and shopping centers, above the hundred-year flood plane, etc. etc. This is NOT WRONG, for God expects us to be concerned about such things. Prudence dictates that we take note of such things.

Prudence (WISDOM) also dictates that we be concerned about what awaits us beyond the dividing of this life from that which is to come. That is far more important than the natural things.

We are only on earth for a short span of time, but Eternity is in another realm altogether. I can not explain it to you, but I am convinced that it is even more real than what we are seeing in the here and now.

Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, NOT HAVING RECEIVED 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. For they that say such things declare plainly that THEY SEEK A COUNTRY.

Hebrews 11:16 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.

When God reveals Himself to us, we, like the patriarchs of old, catch a vision of an ETERNAL CITY, A STEADFAST CITY IN A BETTER COUNTRY. It is part of the package.