Friday, June 30th, 2017

Just as the debate over healthcare continues on, so does Paul in his letter to the Hebrews, speaking of the “Hall of Famers” of the Bible and how they lived “by faith” (see Elevated Discourse’s article for Thursday, June 29th). After explaining in verse 13 of chapter 11 that those heroes of the Bible, like Noah, Abraham, and Sarah, who had lived their lives by faith but never received those things promised, Paul continues by saying, “they only saw [the promises] and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth.” Paul then turns outward to his audience in verse 14, saying “People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.” What does he mean? This statement pertains to those heroes of faith who admitted that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. Why would someone, living by faith, say that they were a foreigner on the planet they were born into? It is because they are certain that their Father is God and their home is Heaven. This certainty, that all those who call upon the name of Jesus have a home in Heaven, is summed up in the term “eternal perspective.” An eternal perspective sets your place in the Kingdom of God ahead of the kingdom of self. In participating in the debate over healthcare, pray for an eternal perspective that allows you to pursue righteousness and truth over self-indulgent desires to be “right.”

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.” – Hebrews 11:13-14