October 27
Bible Reading: Hebrews 11
Hebrews 11:13-16, “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”
In recent years, millions of people have traveled from afar and even risked their lives to enter into our country. They’ve done so supposing that they will find a better life than what was their experience in the country that they left. They deemed America to be a “better country” and took the necessary steps to get here. Though far from perfect, we are privileged to live in a country such as ours. But there is still a far better country than this one.
The readers of this epistle were tempted, under the threat of persecution, to return to their Jewish religion. The author encouraged them to endure by faith according to the example of the Old Testament patriarchs, like Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. They lived as strangers and exiles on earth. By faith, they overcame obstacles, thinking not of the land they had left behind, but what God had prepared for them.
The believer in Christ is an alien here and a citizen of a better country (Philippians 3:20). We enjoy many privileges as citizens of this country, but this world is not our home. As long as we are here, we “groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling” (2 Corinthians 5:2).
Stop and consider this… You’ve been privileged to live in the most free and prosperous country in history. People from all around the world want to come here to America. As attested to by the thousands who are crossing our southern border every single day. Still, our heavenly citizenship is of infinitely greater value. Kings and kingdoms come and go. But heaven is forever (Hebrews 11:13-16, 12:28). All the world suffers from corruption and decay because of sin. Not so heaven. We possess in heaven “an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4). It will not perish. It is untouched by sin. It’ll never go away.
You know about politics. You know how there is constant conflict and divisiveness. So much so that it is literally tearing our country apart. But it is different with heaven. No earthly leader of any country is perfect. We are all sinners by birth, and they are, too. But in heaven, we’ve a perfect ruler. Jesus is even now the ruler of the kings of the earth (Revelation 1:5). He does all things well. There will come a day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess Him as Lord. And rightly so, for He is our creator and our Savior. He is rich in grace and mercy. He cares so much that He willingly gave Himself up for our sins. He is all wise and can never make a wrong decision about anything. He has the power to subject all things to Himself. He is a perfect King and His is a perfect Kingdom.
The greatest thing about heaven will be seeing Jesus. Scripture tells us that we will marvel at Him when we see Him (2 Thessalonians 1:10)! It is a matter which transcends our earthly ability to grasp. We will be restored to what God intended for us before sin entered in. In the presence of Jesus, all of our desires and needs will be finally and perfectly met. And we will be reunited with those who have gone on before us. As the song says, “Friends will be there I have loved long ago; joy like a river around me will flow; yet just a smile from my Savior, I know, will through the ages be glory for me!”
There will be a lot of “no longers” in heaven. A lot of things will be missing when we get there: “And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away’ (Revelation 21:3-4).” No longer any death, or mourning, or crying, or pain or sin! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve shared this passage as a hospice chaplain.
The Scottish preacher John McNeill liked to tell about an eagle that had been captured when it was quite young. The farmer who snared the bird put a restraint on it so it couldn’t fly, and then he turned it loose to roam in the barnyard. It wasn’t long till the eagle began to act like the chickens, scratching and pecking at the ground. This bird that once soared high in the heavens seemed satisfied to live the barnyard life of the lowly hen. One day the farmer was visited by a shepherd who came down from the mountains where the eagles lived. Seeing the eagle, the shepherd said to the farmer, “What a shame to keep that bird hobbled here in your barnyard! Why don’t you let it go?” The farmer agreed, so they cut off the restraint. But the eagle continued to wander around, scratching and pecking as before. The shepherd picked it up and set it on a high stone wall. For the first time in months, the eagle saw the grand expanse of blue sky and the glowing sun. Then it spread its wings and with a leap soared off into a tremendous spiral flight, up and up and up. At last, it was acting like an eagle again.
God would have us, as believers, to act like eagles. Much better to soar into glory than to scratch in the dirt. It is good to be a heavenly-minded Christian desiring—and being brought safely home to—a better country!
You’ve two citizenships, but one is of infinitely more value, for it foretells of a perfect and eternal place. Be very glad for your heavenly citizenship as you eagerly await Jesus’ return!
This world is not my home, I’m just passin’ through
My treasures and my hopes are placed beyond the blue
Many friends and kin have gone on before and
I can’t feel at home in this world anymore
LookingtoJesus 