Hebrews 11:13 writes: “All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised …” The promise was not the land of Canaan, now disputed in Palestine. Then what promise? The verse continues: “… they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.”
“Welcoming from a distance” was not physical, but in faith. The land was unseen, but at the edge of death, Abraham understood: “Ah, it is there.”
“If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return …” But Abraham did not look back. He was lonely, without relatives. When famine struck, he did not return to Ur of the Chaldeans; instead, he chose to go to Egypt—even to the point where Pharaoh almost took his wife. Such was Abraham’s integrity.
“… 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.” We, too, must honestly believe and accept that our homeland is after the grave, not on this earth. Therefore, we must not be bound to worldly pleasures. There is nothing wrong with having a house, a car, or life’s facilities, but we must not be attached to them.
Jesus said: “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:2-3). He also said: “Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, not on earth. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matt. 6:19-21). Christianity leaves no room for worldly orientation. That was only in the Old Covenant, which was still focused on the physical. But the New Covenant fully directs us to the coming Kingdom of Christ. That atmosphere can even be experienced now. Therefore, if preaching is directed solely toward fulfilling material needs, using verses of promise about earthly blessings, true Christianity becomes paralyzed.
As a result, many who attend church remain worldly. They do not realize that this world is tragic, that we are being prepared to inherit the Kingdom of Heaven with Christ. We must be discerning. The “blessing of Abraham”—that through him all nations of the earth would be blessed—is not material, but points to Jesus Christ. Indeed, if we look at Abraham’s life, he was not seeking material blessings. He risked his life, willing to be a “lost cause” in the eyes of man, in pursuit of a land he did not even know.
Therefore, if we do not change our way of thinking and remain worldly, we will not be recognized by God. We will not be allowed to enter the family of the Kingdom of God or the Father’s house. Ironically, many believers have not yet dared to reach spiritual maturity, focusing on the truth directed toward the new heaven and new earth. We must have the courage to shift our focus!
Remember, death cannot be defeated with life—that is, with worldly philosophy: “Since we will die, let us enjoy life while we can.” That is human philosophy. But Jesus taught that death is defeated with death: putting oneself to death, taking up the cross, surrendering one’s life. The Lord Jesus repeatedly said: “Whoever is not willing to lose his life will not gain it. But whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.” Many people ultimately betray their loyalty to Christ for the sake of family, worldly pleasure, or life’s circumstances. These three things often keep Christians from bearing the cross. The blessing for the Old Covenant people was prosperity. However, the blessing for the people of the New Covenant is suffering that shapes us into the likeness of Christ.