Day By Day By Grace

Bob Hoekstra

October 27, 2008

Abraham's Patient, Heavenly Pilgrimage, by Faith

These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having
seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed
that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say
such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. (Hebrews
11:13-14)

We looked at Sarah's testimony here in Hebrews previously (in the
meditations on God's promises). Consequently, we will press on to
consider a strategic extension of Abraham's testimony concerning his
obedient, earthly sojourn, by faith. Therein, we saw him traveling
through life on earth as an alien, a stranger (in the world, but not of
it). Now, we will see Abraham's patient, heavenly pilgrimage, by faith.
His previous testimony concluded with this pilgrimage theme: "For he
waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is
God" (Hebrews 11:10). Early in the present continuing testimony, the
two themes are coupled. "They were strangers and pilgrims on the
earth." A stranger (sojourner) is one who does not belong to the given
locale. The pilgrim is one who is marching toward a given spiritual
destination.

Abraham and his family (Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob) were promised the land
flowing with milk and honey. "These all died in faith, not having
received the promises." They did not personally experience the
possessing of the promised land. Yet, they lived with a sense of
guaranty that God would fulfill His promises: "but having seen them
afar off were assured of them, embraced them." They fully accepted the
certainty that the Lord would some day give that land to their seed.
Meanwhile, they confessed that they were content to live as strangers
concerning this world and as pilgrims anticipating the world to come:
"and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."

Now, the pilgrimage aspect of Abraham's testimony (and his family's) is
emphasized. "For those who say such things declare plainly that they
seek a homeland." As the years passed and the promised land was not
given to them, their hearts yearned for a true, lasting, eternal
homeland. "For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek
a homeland." God wants to develop this perspective of heavenly
pilgrimage in our hearts as well. "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and
pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" (1
Peter 2:11). The Lord wants us to set our daily course toward heaven,
rejecting earthly cravings that diminish spiritual vitality.

Father God, You have fulfilled so many promises for me here on this
earth. I praise You and thank You for such loving grace. Still, my
heart yearns for that which heaven alone can provide. Thus, I press on
as a pilgrim, bound for my homeland above.