How Long The Wait?

Hebrews 11:13 – These all died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. (RSV)

Just imagine waiting for a lifetime for a promised event that would never come to pass in one's generation! All the heroes of faith mentioned in Hebrews 11 lived a whole long life of hope, never giving up in their professed faith, fully convinced that God was able to do what He had promised. What a challenge they present to our impatient and unbelieving generation!

When our father in faith, Abraham, was called out of Ur, his native country, into a land that God would show him, he was promised permanent inheritance of this land, for him and his descendants. But the Bible tells us that Abraham died before he received Canaan, the Promised Land, as his inheritance. As a matter of fact, he was buried in the land of the Hittites, not in Canaan. Was God's promise to Abraham of inheriting a land void? If not so, what and where is this land of promise? Do we, as Abraham's descendants in faith, have any share in Abraham's promised land?

Hebrews 11:10 – For he looked forward to the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (RSV)

Having unquestionably obeyed and trusted God, Abraham, our father in faith, was not only promised the earthly Canaan, but also the heavenly Canaan as an eternal inheritance for himself and all his spiritual descendants (us).

Are we ready to follow in Abraham's footsteps, total trust and total obedience to God, so as to have a share in his promise? Lord, help us as we do so.

Prayer: Mighty Lord in the eternal glory, grant today that our hearts doubt not any of your holy precepts, but instead may we trust you to see us through our daily toil until we see you on your throne. In Jesus' name. Amen.

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