They were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.
Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for he has prepared a city for them (Heb 11:16).
God prepared the people He delivered;
He had them prepare a place for Him to dwell among them;
and He prepared a priesthood.
God was ready to part the waters of the Jordan River
and bring them into the land
He promised their ancestors.
It was a good and fruitful land;
A land where grape clusters had to be carried on poles;
Where figs and pomegranates burgeoned.
It was a land flowing with the abundance of God’s goodness.
However, attitudes over-shadowed faith.
Fear deemed the land unattainable
and God’s promises unbelievable.
Their rebellion cost them God’s reward.
If it was the land they didn’t want, it was the land they wouldn’t get.
They would wander in the wasteland of their unbelief
until the last one of the lot perished there.
God’s offer to settle the land prepared fell to the next generation.
God promised to conquer the challenges before them
in exchange for their obedience.
He would drive out the enemies they would face.
They were, however, to live lives set apart from the influences of the nations.
Christians, too, are called to live in the world . . . but not of it.
When we assign to Him, in humble surrender,
the territory of our hearts,
He empowers from within a consecrated life.
By His name, He drives out enemies of pride, immorality, and fear.
It is a battle hard fought . . .
but a battle hard won.
And, by His Spirit, He produces abundant fruit in barren places—
until we reach that distant shore,
where the Son is now preparing
a land flowing with the riches of our Father’s grace.
We look forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God (Heb 11:10 NLT).
In expectant hope, we live as those named in Hebrews hall of faith—
unashamed and longing to live in the city promised and prepared—
by our everlasting Master, Lord, and King.