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Hebrews 11:13-16
These people that we have been learning about, Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah are great examples of faith. While the promises God made to them may have been somewhat of this world (acceptable sacrifice, to have faith – believing in what we cannot see, to take action in faith, to have children at a time which seems impossible, to inherit a land in which has not been seen nor known), the promise of a new land and a new home that was not of the earthly world was the ultimate goal for them all. God had shown them a way…and they believed in the promise.
This is the promise of God: to give us a home in a new city of heaven.
Jesus told His disciples in John 14:1-2 (NKJV), “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
In this world are many trials and uncertainties, but God has prepared a place for all who believe in Him to live in His glory for eternity – in Christ Jesus. But we must not hide from the truth; faith is a call to action in that faith, and faith in God requires us to take action in showing our faith to God by opening our hearts to Him and asking His forgiveness made possible by what Jesus has done for us on the cross in paying the price for our sins. Open your heart to Jesus today and ask of His forgiveness in your own sincerity of your heart – you cannot continue to pretend that because you consider yourself a generally good person that God will allow you into heaven when you die. Do you feel comfortable, at that moment, standing before God with the defense of, “I’m a generally good person?” He will ask you at that moment, “Do you know My Son who paid your price due to sin? Have you asked of His forgiveness for what He had to do in dying on the cross for your sins?” If your answer is “no”, then God’s response will be that He does not know you, and then He will cast you out of His presence for eternity. But if you will take action and sincerely open your heart to Jesus and ask of His forgiveness, He will forgive you. A sincere heart is repentant – it desires to change. And being forgiven from Jesus, He will send His Holy Spirit to live within your heart and be your guide to life. Then, when you stand before God to answer those same questions, Jesus will step forward and say to His Father in heaven, “I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity” (John 17:22-23a, NIV). And God’s reply will then be, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21, ESV).
Dear LORD,
You have given us the promise of life eternal for all who will open their hearts to Jesus and ask of His forgiveness. As Jesus cried out to His disciples to believe in Him in John 14:1-2, this passage leads us to His ultimate answer to His disciples in John 14:6 of Him being the way, the truth, and the life; and that no one comes to the Father except through Him. Please help us to believe in what Jesus has done for our salvation on the cross, and then not to forget the importance of His resurrection from the grave in claiming victory over sin, death, and Satan once for all that we may be saved through Him. In Jesus name I pray, amen.