LOOKING FOR A BETTER
PLACE
The
year 2020 goes into History as one of the most turbulent years in the world in
recent memory. For the USA, it commemorates the 400th anniversary of
the landing of the Pilgrims on the May Flower on December 11, 1620, at Plymouth
Rock. The early pilgrims left their homeland, searching for a new and better
world to live and freely practice their Christian Faith. Since that time, the USA became a land of freedom,
opportunities, and a home for millions of brave immigrants worldwide. Our
family is one of them. Many consider the USA to be the so-called promised land.
However, Wilma and I don't feel that way.
As one of our Greek family friends
said, the USA without God and our Faith is a wilderness. We are looking for a
better place as many here do as well. It is a place where there will be no
hospitals and no prisons—a place of no tears, no pain, and goodbyes. Does such
a place exist, many skeptics wonder? Our ancestors had looked forward to it, so
it certainly exists.
We are exploring the biographical
lives of men and women in Faith's Hall of Fame. Last week we learned that it is
possible to live a holy and righteous life amid a wicked generation as Enoch
and Noah did. We also recognized what we offer to God doesn't matter much more
than how we offer because He searches our hearts' motives.
Today we will look at the faith
journey of one of the Patriarchs named Abraham. What was the land like where
Abraham was living before God called him to leave that place? What kind of a
person Abraham was, and how he struggled maintaining his faith? What was the
call and God's mission for Abraham, and how would they affect our lives today?
Abraham is historically a prominent
figure in Judaism, Islam, and Christianity. These three major religions claim
some affinity with Abraham and his lineage. We Christians believe by faith; we
are Abraham’s heirs and God’s promises to Abraham belongs to us. (Gal 3:29).
I
THE CALL OF ABRAHAM (Genesis 12-25)
We will work through the passage in
Hebrews 11, in the background of chapters 12-25 in the book of Genesis. Hebrews
11: 8-9, "It was by Faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave
home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance.
He went without knowing where he was
going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for
he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so, did Isaac and Jacob, who
inherited the same promise." What do we know about Abraham's life?
He was called Abram (Exalted Father)
before God changed his name to Abraham, meaning "Father of nations." Abraham
is first mentioned at the end of Shem's genealogy, about 4,000 years ago, in
the city called Ur in Mesopotamia. What was the city of Ur like at that time?
The modern name for Ur is Tall al-Muqayyar in
Iraq. This ancient Mesopotamian city is situated about 140 miles southeast of Babylon
and about 10 miles west of the Euphrates River. Terah and his sons were
born there (Gen 11:26-32) and set out for Haran.[1]
The inscriptions record a populous
city, inhabited by artisans and merchants, frequented by numerous strangers. All
the vital trade routes of the ancient world, running from Elam (Iran), India,
and southern Arabia to the north and west countries, converged there.
Can God call idol worshippers to
follow Him? Joshua 24:2, Abraham's family was worshipping other gods, entailing
the worship of the Sumerian moon god. God says to Abraham, "Leave your
native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land
that I will show you."
Since Abraham's family were worshipping
the gods of the nations, it is clear that God did not call him because he was a
good person or because he was righteous. On the contrary, the call comes about
because of God's grace and election. That is how God still works.
The point of the story is that God
called Abraham out of an area of civilization and prosperity. God called him to
leave a comfortable and familiar place to go to an unknown place. Abraham probably
had a hard time imagining any place better than where he already was. If God
told you to leave your family, relatives, and country you love and go to an unknown
destination, he would show you later; how many of us would be excited to go
without a road map?
Abraham departs in obedience to God's
word, but he has not yet seen the land where he is going; he leaves by faith as
we have read in Hebrews 11:8-9. When we left India in
2005 to come to the USA, it was somewhat like Abraham's call on our lives. It was
a scary undertaking at age forty to leave everything familiar behind and move
our family halfway across the world.
Faith comes by
hearing the word of the Lord. When God speaks to you to go somewhere or do
something for Him, you listen and take the steps of obedience. Though it may
not be apparent initially, the clarity will come as you obey. In obedience to
the call, Abraham set out. At the time
of his departure, Abraham was a wealthy man. Genesis 13:2, "Abraham was
very rich in livestock, silver, and gold." Along the way, he accumulated
more wealth to an extent the Hittites recognized him as "an honored
prince." Gen 23:4. Other aspects of Abraham's story.
He established
four altars on his way to the promised land and worshipped the Lord. (Gen
12:5-7, 12:8,13:3-4,13:14-18). That shows his heart of devotion and commitment
to the Lord.
Abraham was a warrior. He rescued his nephew Lot and his family that
were captured by rebel kings, with the help of a home-grown militia of 318
trained men. (Gen 14:3).
Remember how with
audacity, he bargained with God for Him not to destroy the righteous in Sodom
and Gomorrah? Due to Abraham's intercession, God spared Lot and his family.
(Gen 18:18-33). As the story continued, God appeared to him in a vision and
asked him to look up into the sky and count the stars if he could; that's how
many descendants he will have.
And Abraham
believed the LORD, and the LORD counted him as righteous because of his faith."
Genesis 15:6 Here is an important lesson to be learned. God counted Abraham
righteous not because of all his past achievements until that point or the
future sacrifices he would make. But because Abraham believed the LORD and
obeyed his word.
Later on, the
Apostle Paul writing about how people will be saved, recounts this event.
Romans 4:23-24 “And when God counted him as righteous, it wasn't just for
Abraham's benefit. It was recorded for our benefit, too, assuring us that God
will also count us as righteous if we believe in him, the one who raised Jesus
our Lord from the dead." This how it still works. We are not saved by our
works but by God's grace and our belief in the Lord. Let's continue our story.
II THE PROMISE AND TESTINGS
In Genesis chapter 18, we read about God promising Abraham
and Sarah that they will have a son in a year. Initially, they had a hard time
believing that promise as they both were very old, and Sarah was long past
child-bearing age. We will find more details in Hebrews 11:11-12.
"It was by faith
that even Sarah was able to have a child, though she was barren and was too
old. She believed that God would keep his promise. And so, a whole nation came
from this one man who was as good as dead—a nation with so many people that,
like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore, there is no way to
count them." When Sarah doubted in her heart how could this pleasure of
having a baby ever possible, God challenged her saying, "is there anything
too hard for the Lord?
I will return
about this time next year, and you (Sarah) will have a son." Gen 18:14.
What was humanly impossible, God made it possible. Abraham and Sarah had their
promised son and named him Isaac. After some time, at age 125 and 175, both
Abraham and Sara died and were buried in Abraham's own land. What made Abraham
and others who died following in his footsteps uniquely different?
III. LOOKING FOR A BETTER PLACE (Vs. 13-16)
Vs. 13-16, "All these
people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive
what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They
agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. But they were
looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed
to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. "At times,
the promises of God may or may not be fulfilled in our lifetime.
One thing that was
common in all the heroes of faith was that they believed and held on to God's
promises despite all odds. They were looking for a better place. God was proud
of them and not ashamed to be called their God as he has prepared a city for
them. What kind of a city?
Vs. 10, "a
city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God." We can
have a glimpse of it in Revelation 21-22. "Then I saw a new heaven and a
new earth, for the old heaven and the old earth had disappeared. And the sea
was also gone. And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God
out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." The
wall of the city was built on foundation stones inlaid with twelve precious
stones. The twelve gates were made of pearls—each gate from a single
pearl!
And the main
street was pure gold, as clear as glass. I saw no temple in the city, for the
Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And all the nations
will bring their glory and honor into the city. 27 Nothing evil will be
allowed to enter, nor anyone who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty—but
only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
Dear friends
there is absolutely nothing in this world can be compared to the glorious place
that God is preparing for his people. Our ancestors have looked eagerly for
their heavenly homeland leaving an example for us to follow. Would you like to
live in a heavenly homeland?
Believe in Jesus, He will show you the way as He is the only way
to heaven. Amen!
