These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
Hebrews 11: 3 (NKJV)
It is our expectation many times that promises should be received closely to the time the promise is made. However, that is not the way God works. This devotion looks at how Faith Hall of Famers died in faith – without receiving their promises.
Nuggets
- Up to the day they died, these Faith Hall of Famers believed whatever was promised would still happen.
- Faith is about the assurance that, even though it seems impossible, everything is possible with God (Mt. 19: 26).
Can we say instant gratification? How about entitlement? Those are two concepts that seem to run society.
God doesn’t work that way. In fact, Hebrews said several faithful followers died without receiving their promises. What gives with that?
Let's Put It into Context
The writer of Hebrews gave a list of saints that had been inducted into the Faith Hall of Fame. You know, the best of the best. The successful. They are our role models after Jesus.
What makes them role models is their faith. Faith is the belief that the doctrines stated in God’s Word are true, even if we do not understand all aspects of them.
To read
What Is Faith?
and
Which Is Foundational: Faith or Works?,
click on the appropriate button below.
The writer of Hebrews put it this way: “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen” (Heb. 11: 1 RSV). We can’t depend on ourselves. At some point, we just have to say, “It may seem impossible, but I believe this.”
The chapter goes on to explain why these believers are the cream of the crop. But he starts it with a very mind-boggling statement. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises …” (Heb. 11: 13 NKJV).
No. That is just wrong. Rewards are supposed to happen not only within our lifetimes but also right away.
Ummm. That isn’t how God works. Let’s break this down.
Dying in Faith
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises …” (Heb. 11: 13 NKJV).
Everyone the writer mentioned died before the promise was fulfilled. Abel died before he could be rewarded for his sacrifice. Noah knew he was one of eight to survive to repopulate the earth — but that isn’t very many. Abraham was also promised a lot of descendants.
Theses men of faith did not get instant gratification. They didn’t even get closure.
Didn’t matter.
Up to the day they died, these Faith Hall of Famers believed whatever was promised would still happen. Some day. No, not in their lifetime, but some day.
They probably got discouraged at tines when it was taking (in their minds) too long for the promise to show up. They did not give up. They continued to believe because God said so.
The Faith Hall of Famers enjoyed even though they did not experience. But isn’t that what faith is all about?
The Old Testament saints were promised a Messiah but never saw Him. The New Testament saints were promised the Messiah would come again, but He still hasn’t yet.
So, what did it mean they died in faith?
- They knew God was Sovereign God.
- They believed what God had told them.
- They trusted that Jesus would come.
- They knew that their sins were forgiven.
- They persevered in believing in God.
- They worked to withstand Satan’s temptation.
Living in Faith
“… but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them …” (Heb. 11: 13 NKJV).
No, the Faith Hall of Famers hadn’t experienced the promises, but they could describe them to us. They may have even talked about them in the present tense.
Do we know of people who say they have to see something before they believe it? Have nonbelievers told you they have to understand before they can believe?
That isn’t what faith is about. Faith is about the assurance that, even though it seems impossible, everything is possible with God (Mt. 19: 26). It is believing in what God says to us.
That is the faith disciples are to live. We are to boldly pursue God and the promises that He gives us. We are to boldly do the tasks that God has assigned to us.
We have to embrace God — His laws and commandments, His plans for our lives. Most of all, we have to diligently work to grow in grace and knowledge (II Pet. 3: 18).
To read How Can We Wait Silently While Not Being Silent?, click the button below.
We have to think about why God gives us promises. Why doesn’t He just do what He is going to do and let us catch up as He does it?
“Because of your promise and according to your will, you have done all these great things and have made them known to your servant” (II Sam. 7: 12 NLT). God wants us to see His heart. He wants us to know His love.
Promises focus us on the Provider and the provision rather than the product. We focus on God giving us what we need instead of the the actual gift.
Faith has to permeate our lives. When it does, the product is trusting and believing. That brings joy and contentment while we wait for the fulfillment of the promises.
Disciples have to know that we cannot look to the ruler of this world to fulfill promises. Satan is a liar and a deceiver. “This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels” (Rev. 12: 9 NLT).
Confessing in Faith
“… and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (Heb. 11: 13 NKJV).
Stranger has several definitions. It is a person we don’t know, maybe because they are a newcomer. They aren’t family or a member of the group. Strangers can be seen as outsiders.
A pilgrim is someone who journeys to a sacred shrine or place. During the Journey, the pilgrim becomes the stranger in different places through which is traveled.
Ooo, baby. We talked about this in the last devotion.
To read Should Disciples Compromise Their Beliefs?, click the button below.
God doesn’t want us to look like the world. “Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God—what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect” (Rom. 12: 2 GNT).
To read
How Are We Different from the World (Part 1)
and
How Are We Different from the World (Part21),
click on the appropriate button below.
When we think about it, strangers is a good term to describe disciples. We aren’t supposed to be a member of the worldview family. They do see us as outsides — and the division is becoming more prominent.
True disciples think differently. We act differently. We have different interests.
We are pilgrims. We are just passing through this life on our way to being called home for eternity. Our citizenship is in heaven, not earth.
When I was going the research for this post, I came across this statement. “Heaven is held out in the gospel not in bargain as a reward to our performance of God’s precepts, but simply in anticipation as a fulfilment to our hope of God’s promises” (Chalmers).
Oh, man. Don’t we sometimes think heaven is going to be our prize instead of our promise? We think we are going to “win” it by doing as many of the do’s as we can and avoiding as many of the don’ts as we can.
We don’t get it that we can’t earn our way into heaven. Yes, after we admit our sins, believe on Jesus as Redeemer, and confess God as Sovereign Lord, we do have to demonstrate that commitment by following God’s laws and commandments.
In the scheme of things, we are on this earth only for a little while. We will be in eternity for a really, really long time.
The journey is a good metaphor to explain our time here on earth. We have a starting point and an ending point. We are moving through in anticipation of getting where we are going.
We don’t want to stop and roost. We want to continue to press on to our destination.
We don’t compare ourselves with citizens we encounter on the journey. We know our destination has totally different priorities than this world.
Making the Connections
Oh, yes. This talked to me first. I’ve told you that these devotions are one way God talks to me
Are you like me — struggling with something that didn’t happened as planned? We thought A was our promise; but now we are on the path to B.
God’s promises really aren’t for this world. Our comfort and happiness in this life is not God’s priority.
God’s priority is restoring our relationship with Him and preparing us for eternity with Him. Period.
Yes, God will provide what we need for this life. It may not always be what we are looking for, but it will be the best for us. It may not be what we define as success.
How Do We Apply This?
We have to live faithfully for God. No, it isn’t going to be easy. It will be worth it.
Loving Father. Your Word is filled with Your promises. We claim those promises — not because of something we have done. We claim Your promises because we have put our faith in You. Help us as we complete this journey. We press on to our home in heaven. Amen.
The ABCDs of Salvation
A – admit our sins
B – believe His Son Jesus is our Redeemer
C – confess God as Sovereign Lord
D – demonstrate that commitment by making any changes needed in our lives to
live the way in which God has called us
If you have not become a believer in Christ, please read through the Plan of Salvation and prayerfully consider what God is asking you to do.
What do you think?
Leave me a comment below (about this or anything else) or head over to my Facebook group for some interactive discussion.
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