“For he (Abraham) looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 1:10
Dear Ones:
The life of faith is a VERY interesting and challenging one. It actually begins before the birth of mankind, even before the world began. How so? It was born in the heart of God, not only in its application in a perfect world (the Garden of Eden), but also, in a sinful world. The Lord Jesus is the Author and Finisher of faith. In looking at, and considering the matter from this standpoint, it is only logical to realize that there is NOTHING about faith, and its application to the life, that the Lord Jesus does not know, understand, and is the true essence of. So then, why not defer our concepts and “good ideas” concerning such a life to the One who has created it, and is the very MEANS by which it is to be lived? Where do we begin?
From the very moment that God created Adam, His “beginning” of faith was in the revelation of Himself. He would give to man a certain knowledge of Himself, which was the truth. An example of this is not only the unveiling of the beauty, greatness and perfection of creation, but of His words, “…but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, you shall not eat of it.” (Gen. 2:17) God gave to Adam, not only a knowledge of Himself, but also, of His will, which would correspond to that nature. After the Fall, the disobedience and judgement upon man, the knowledge of God became obscured, not only by the sinful nature and his interpretation of the truth of God, but also, by the “additional” knowledge of evil. Dark and twisted thoughts of God, and the consequent worship of Him, would result in the first destruction of the world by the Flood. But that was not the end of faith, for Noah and his family would believe God according to the truth, and be saved. It would be by the coming of Abraham, that God would begin to paint, with exquisite strokes of clarity and power, the essence of a life of faith, a faith that both pleases Him, and by which He will bring His will to pass on this earth, even in the midst of a “crooked and perverse” generation. What is it that characterizes the life of Abraham, and which reveals to us God’s ways in dealing with us, to bring us to faith, and enable us to walk by faith?
We have dealt in times past with how God first revealed Himself to Abraham. He did so in such a way, and with such clarity and persuasion, that Abraham would leave the country of his birth, to come to a land that he knew not. This was based on a promise: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing.” (Gen. 12:2) It is necessary to say that, in giving to Abraham this promise, He did not fill in all the blanks with regard to HOW He was going to do this. But the promise of His presence, and blessing, were to be the “companions” of Abraham’s faith for years to come. Thus, there was the revelation of Himself, and the clear revealing of His Word, His promise. The evidence of such faith in the Person of Christ, and the promise of His heart, would be in Abraham’s submission and obedience to the objective commandments of God.
Abraham would look beyond a physical, earthly “land,” to a “…city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Heb. 11:10). It would be a “country”, a “heavenly” country, which would be forever, the Eternal God being the Creator, Sustainer, and Essence of it. Abraham’s certain hope would be to DWELL with God, in fellowship with Him, forever.
Dear Father, give us a vision of the heavenly, first of Thyself in Thy glory, and then, that which Thou hast prepared for those who will truly trust You. Open the eyes of our hearts to look beyond the physical, that which is passing away, to that which is wholly, and only of God. Strengthen us to believe the promises, and embrace thy commandments in all things. We thank Thee, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad