Freedom is Good News Part 61

We have been considering Abraham “our father” in the past few articles and truly there is much more to visit about this one who is called “the father of the faithful”.  In the book of Hebrews we find what many have called “the faith chapter” or others call “the hall of fame of the faithful”.  And yes, Abraham is found there.

Following faith statements concerning Abel, Enoch and Noah; we read in Hebrews 11:8, “By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went out even though he did not know where he was going.”  Can we have some fun for a moment and listen in on the conversation God had with this man of faith?  “Abram, I need you to move your household.”  “OK God, shall I find a house across town?”  “No, I will require you to make a much longer journey.”  When all was said and done, God had His servant Abram pack up all his possessions and move approximately 1000 miles.  That is about the distance from our town of Elk Horn to Atlanta Georgia and he and his household travelled by camel and donkey.  “Are we there yet, Father?”

Yes, Abraham was an obedient servant of God!!  Hebrews 11:9, “By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise.”  One thing we find out about Abraham is that he was an extremely wealthy man and yet his life in this land of promise was to him as living in a foreign country.  And throughout his life he dwelt in tents.  Genesis 13:2 tells us that “he had become very wealthy in livestock and in silver and gold.”  How long did he live in tents?  The bible tells us that he was 75 years old when he made this 1000 mile journey and he lived to a very ripe old age of 175 – his tent dwelling days were 100 years!! 

My friends, by definition a tent is a temporary dwelling.  If we would understand our father Abraham’s example we should perhaps come to grips with this life we are now living and ask ourselves the question, “Are we living here today as strangers in a foreign country?”  Do we understand that this amazing body we have been given by God is also just a temporary dwelling? 

As we continue on reading in Hebrews 11 let us go on to verse 10, “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”  There is a song that we sometimes sing in our worship service, perhaps you are familiar with it, “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through.  My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue.”  I think of this song when I consider Abraham’s lesson for us. 

Are you looking to this world for the fulfillment of your dreams?  Or are you like “Father Abraham”, looking forward to that “city with foundations whose architect and builder is God?”

 That is where the reality of the good news lies.