50

Hebrews 11:13-16 (The Message)

"Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them."

So we don't belong to this earth. I don't know what else to say after this verse- it seems to sum it all up. This place isn't our true home. This verse in Hebrews is kind of like the punch line of this famous faith chapter. After it lists all of the Bible's heroes of the faith and what they believed for, it ends with this shocking reminder: we are blessed to know that the promised Messiah, Jesus, actually did come and live and die and live again and save the people. These veteran heroes of the faith died waiting for Jesus, the promise. The didn't even see it!! And they were able to do it because they embraced the fact that they did not belong on this earth, but they belonged to a "far better country... heaven country." They knew they were passing through and when life got too hard to believe, they looked beyond their current situation and in the distance saw their home waiting for them. I look up to these ones and I hope I am strong enough to live like this.

Look beyond your now to your home city waiting for you.