Abraham’s Faith and Obedience Pt. 4
Faith lives from the invisible toward the visible. Abraham discovered trust in God’s promises anchored in an unseen realm. (Heb. 11:8-12, 13-16)
Abraham believed God existed, believed He loved us unconditionally, and sought Him earnestly (Hebrews 11:6). Result: he could believe and obey God’s promises when there was no evidence of realizing those promises.
Hebrews 11:1 defines faith as a firm conviction concerning things unseen and a confident expectation of future fulfillment. Faith trusts God for everything, while hope looks toward the future and trusts God for it.
Abraham looked to the future, not just for the earthly land promised or for a son, but for the eternal city that God has prepared for us. (Heb. 11:10,16)
Abraham Believed in God’s Eternal Purposes
Abraham waited for the “city” (Heb. 11:10). His natural eyes couldn’t see it, but he could see with a spiritual eye what God had “revealed” to him—the heavenly Jerusalem. God prepared a heavenly country and city for Abraham and all of God’s people (vs. 16).
Guess what?
According to Heb. 11:10, 16, we are already citizens of this city. It is so full of exciting and welcoming features that we should find it mysterious and overwhelming, for God is in this eternal city’s midst! The writer lists several key things about this city in Heb. 12:22-24, which we will learn in a moment.
John describes this city in Revelation:
Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Rev. 21:1-4 NIV
God has prepared the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, for His people. God’s Tabernacle is in the midst, where He dwells with all humanity, loving and caring for us! No more death, crying, or pain in this city. How comforting to read!
Jesus is the resurrection and the life. All who pass in Christ are promised resurrection life and this new city. Paul writes about this in 1 Corinthians 15. We now get “glimpses” of eternity through the witness of the Holy Spirit.
The writer of Hebrews tells us that we have come to Mt. Zion, the city of the living God, through Christ and the New Covenant. We have become the very “city of God!”
22 But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,24 to Jesus the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. Heb. 12:22-24 NIV
Let’s look at these verses.
Vs. 22 But you have come (past tense!) to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to countless angels (literally myriads (a myriad is 10,000)) who are worshipping!
Vs. 23 refers to the general assembly (ecclesia, a festal gathering) and the church of the firstborn (Jesus the firstborn, Heb. 1:6; now all believers share the same status).
As firstborns, we have a sacred inheritance and are “enrolled in heaven.” Jesus told the disciples in Luke 10:20 that their names were written in heaven. Paul and Revelation speak of Christians as those whose names are written in the “book of life.”
Vs. 24 Jesus is the mediator of a new and better covenant. The blood of Abel cries for justice, whereas the blood of Jesus, an innocent victim of a far worse crime, cries out for mercy and forgiveness! Instead of bringing a curse (Gen. 4:11), it brings the blessing of eternal redemption (Heb. 9:12) and victory over death.
Dr. NT Wright comments on these verses:
Thus, the great theme of the earlier part of Hebrews, that of the true heavenly Temple into which Jesus has gone on our behalf and into which we are now invited because of what he’s done, comes to its great climax in this passage: the new city is the new Temple, the place where God lives in glory and invites his people to share his life.1
In contrast to the preceding verses, where the children of Israel came to Mt. Sinai (Exodus 19), where the Old Covenant of the Law brought fear and separation, Jesus, the mediator of the New Covenant, brings overwhelming blessings to God’s obedient people. We can draw near to God through Jesus without fear!
However, the writer of Hebrews also warns us not to turn away from God deliberately (root of bitterness, vs. 15) or refuse His voice, but rather to accept His grace and walk in it.
We want to live according to what was promised, with expectancy toward the future.
Abraham lived from prophetic expectancy based on God’s promise. Yet, Abraham and Sarah didn’t see the fullness of the promise—it was larger than them.
Abraham looked for the city that is now ours. He gave himself to God’s eternal purposes. He kept his eye on that which was unseen yet eternal.
Wright continues about Heb. 12:22:
“… according to verse 22, those who now live by faith and hope have already, in a sense, arrived at this heavenly city. They already belong there; in prayer and worship, they are already welcome before God’s throne. This leads to the obvious question: does your life of prayer and worship, whether alone or with your fellow believers, carry the sense of joy and excitement that comes bubbling out of these verses? If not, why not? 2
Are you remaining in Christ, His love, peace, and joy? This is part of our eternal inheritance for the followers of Christ.
The church should live in the expectancy that is larger and later. Live from expectancy!
Expecting means looking forward and being pregnant. We live best from expectancy—anticipating and yearning for what we hope for.
Many in the body of Christ are expecting—carrying something. We have His glory, and God’s glory should build in our lives and His Church.
The challenge for us is living day to day. Delay can quench the deepest desires of the heart. We long for Jesus—His presence, but God can’t be scheduled or planned.
Patience and endurance are needed to support expectant faith.
“Imitate those who, through faith and patience, inherit the promises.” Heb. 6:12 NKJV
Greek for patience means patient endurance and longsuffering.
Have you ever lost hope in a promise? I’m sure we all have. We must steward God’s promises! We are responsible for them.
Question: What is God doing in your life, your family, our church, city, and nation?
Do you see God’s eternal perspective in these areas? When we look with an eternal perspective, things begin to look differently—we will act differently!
How can we give ourselves to God’s eternal purposes in our generation?
Cultivate an intimate relationship with Jesus John 15:4: “Abide in Me, and I in you…”
Have the same perspective as Jesus towards those who don’t know Him. Luke 19:10, Jesus came to seek and to save the lost. This is His heart!
Walk in unity and love with one another. Peter tells us to be of One mind and love as brothers 1 Peter 3:8-9
Commit to your local church. Become a servant leader—everyone is called to this. Support your church with tithes and offerings. Give your time, treasure, and talents—be a good steward.
Follow and obey your leaders (Heb. 13:17) and be humble with others, 1 Pet. 5:5: All of you should be submissive to one another.
Get involved with small groups and have regular fellowship with others. Acts 2:46 states that the disciples met daily in the temple and from house to house.
Final Thoughts
Abraham heard God’s voice and simply obeyed. He believed in what God said. Based on God’s character and nature, he was convinced that if God promised something, He had the ability and desire to fulfill it. Abraham gave himself to God’s eternal purposes.
Abraham believed in God’s promises and walked with Him faithfully. This friendship created a divine partnership that significantly impacted our world. His life demonstrated that our relationship with God transcends our failures. Despite their mistakes, God chooses to use those He calls friends to partner with Him.
Reflection Points:
Believe in God’s promises to you—in His written word and those He has spoken to your heart. Obey what He has revealed. He knows how and when to bring His promises to you to pass—you don’t!
Do not fear when God’s promise and leading take you in a direction you don’t understand. God knows what He is doing—trust Him! Faith embraces adventure!
God’s nature is to provide for us. As you follow the Lord, expect His provision to follow you in life. We can trust God will provide as He promises. God’s nature is to provide! Jesus is the good shepherd who loves His sheep and provides for them!
Have a great week in Jesus! Next week, I’ll examine what it means to be a citizen of heaven.
FootNotes
1 Tom Wright, Hebrews for Everyone (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004), 160.
2 Tom Wright, Hebrews for Everyone (London: Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004), 163.
