| “ They desire a better country... a heavenly one ” |
Abraham had no idea where God was taking him; he just knew he couldn't stay where he was. Try explaining that to your friends! But instead of questioning God, we read, "By faith Abraham... went out, not knowing where he was going". Not once did he consider going back home when times got tough. He knew that for him, God wasn't back there. Jephthah is remembered in Scripture for his spectacular victory over the Ammonites, and for a vow he made to God before the battle, a vow he refused to break: "...I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it".
Israel got stuck in the wilderness because they kept reflecting on Egypt. Every time God said, 'Go to Canaan,' they said, 'Oh, but back there in Egypt we enjoyed...' Some of us can't enjoy the Christian life because we're thinking about how much fun the world used to be. Like Israel, we're thinking about the garlic and leeks in Egypt while we are stuck out here in the wilderness with manna. If you think like that you'll go in circles! Back there may look enticing, but God is not back there; He's in your future. So read these words carefully: '...if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 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 11:15-16 NKJV). When you walk with God, there's no going back! |
