Sojourners of Faith

I felt the Lord taking me through Hebrews 10-12 to highlight some important things in our walk with Him. The Lord is calling use to a higher place of faith and trust in Him.

"But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

Without faith, it is impossible to please God! In our western culture, faith is stifled by our persuit of the "American Dream" of 'independence' and 'freedom.' Actually, what our 'freedom' really is, is the freedom to persue control over our own lives and choices - to exist in a controlled environment - safe job, nice home, good food, modern conveniences, reliable transportation, etc., leaving very little need for faith. Faith can be very inconvenient with all that waiting...

"and joyfully accepted the plundering of your goods, knowing that you have a better and an enduring possession for yourselves in heaven.
Now the just shall live by faith;
But if anyone draws back,
My soul has no pleasure in him.
But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul." (Hebrews 10:34b, 38-39)

By faith, we are to advance the Kingdom. Jesus said to gain life, we must lose ours first. To those who "joyfully accepted the plundering of [their] goods," they didn't have one foot in the world and one foot in the Kingdom - they were sold out! Where are we truly putting our hope and faith? The Lord continually shows me where my heart is...and I most definitely have not arrived. Just this week, I had a chunk of money I thought was coming in that was taken away. "But that's not just!" The Lord quickly showed me the offense in my heart, the lack of joy, and revealed where my trust was...it can't be in this job, that client, this check, etc. - but in the Lord!

Verses 9, 13, 16, and 38 describe the "all-stars of faith" as those who were sojourners, strangers, foreigners and aliens in the land. Our faith will make us look weird - at least it should. Faith is the "evidence of things not seen" (v1), so to the natural man it will seem peculiar.

"They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth." (Hebrews 11:38)

Wanderers...doesn't sound like fun. Nor does it sound "inclusive" or "culturally relevant." We need to break the lie of "looking like world" and start looking like we're 'not of this world'.

"By faith Moses, when he became of age, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured as seeing Him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of blood, lest he who destroyed the firstborn should touch them." (Hebrews 11:24-28)

Entitlement is a killer in our western culture, and in the church. Moses chose to suffer affliction - forsaking the riches of this world, opting for greater riches in Christ. He was entitled to a 'better life' - but he chose Christ. He feared the invisible more than the visible. We must do the same.

"And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise" (Hebrews 11:39)

They "did not receive the promise." We must become eternally minded - we will not receive all that is promised to us in this life - if Heaven is our home, this life is but a vapor, passing away quickly. We may sew what others will reap - we're not entitled - it's His works and not our own!

"For he (Abraham) waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them." (Hebrews 11:10,16)

Heaven was home. God was not ashamed to be called "God" by Abraham. Does the same hold true for us? Wow...this was quite hard for me to swallow. I want to be counted as one who "God is not ashamed to be called their God." Building on the previous post, I feel like the Lord is saying strengthen that which remains, that which is worth remaining - and that which is dying and not worth living - let it die. I think much of our "affliction" is kicking against the goads...

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebews 12:1-2,7)

It is time to have greater focus. The day of His return is closer than ever! Endurance builds peaceable fruit!