Text: Hebrews 11:13-16

Intro: This world is not my home I'm just a passing through My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue The angels beckon me from heaven's open door And I can't feel at home in this world anymore Oh lord you know I have no friend like you If heaven's not my home then lord what will I do The angels beckon me from heaven's open door And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Orientate Scripture

CPS: Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob were mere sojourners not only in the land of Canaan but sojourners on earth seeking a better place to dwell and they received that better place by trusting in God's faithfulness to deliver.

I. The faithful live as sojourners on earth Vs.13-14

A. Died in faith

•Abraham left Ur at 75 died at 175

God showed Abraham all the land he would give to Him and his descendants forever Gen. 13:14

in 100 years Abraham didn’t own any land save a burial tomb. He did not take up permanent residence in anyone place.

But he trusted God to bring the promise around at some point during his life or his sons.

Illustration: A little boy was standing at the end of an escalator. The sales lady asked, “Son are you lost?”

“No ma’am, I’m waiting for my chewing gum to come back.”

Abraham was patient as he waited on God just like that little boy who saw the steps of the escalator come full circle Abraham knew God’s promises would come full circle.

Why? because he knew God was faithful.

Abraham believed without seeing yet he saw God’s faithfulness in provision, protection.

•Saw the land (check)

•Son born of Sarah in old age (Check)

•Saw God Provide a sacrifice

100 years of trusting in God’s faithfulness (long time)

WHAT IS TIME TO THE ETERNAL GOD?

B. Lived as strangers to this world.

Why? He knew that the world he lived in was not his home/final destination.

•Define sojourner ( one who resides temporarily in a place)

•confession of Abraham Gen.23:4

•Confession of Jacob Gen. 47:9

•Believers are sojourners on Earth Psalm 39:12 (all my fathers)

Application: This is world is not our home but a temporary dwelling place.

Live our life patiently waiting in faith because our deliverance will come at the end of our life or Jesus’ return.

II. The faithful do not seek opportunities to return to their old lives Vs. 15

A. New creation

2 Cor. 5:16

By grace through faith Abram was changed to Abraham, the old doesn't exist but the new has come.

By grace through faith we become new

Illustration: Becoming new means Your identity Changes - Hope Wilson - Hope Falotico

Being a new creation means you have changed from the inside out.

Your focus is on what is ahead of you not what is behind.

Philippians 3:13 NASB95

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead,

Hebrews 12:1–2 NASB95

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Do not turn back!!!

The Hebrews believers were a new creation but they sought to return to there old ways of life. Worshiping God not in Spirit and truth by by animal sacrifices which God did not desire.

The old things and old ways should no longer appeal to you. But, if they do you burn your ties to them.

B. Burn Bridges

If you were an alcoholic - you throw out all the alcohol and smash the wine glasses or beer mugs.

Burn bridges down. You don’t return.

The Hebrews believers were a new creation but they sought to return to there old ways of life. Worshiping God not in Spirit and truth by by animal sacrifices which God did not desire

•Isaac - Abraham would not allow Isaac to go to Mesopotamia instead he sent his servant to get a wife for Isaac. Gen. 24:6

•Jacob - When Jacob fled from Esau he went to Mesopotamia but his vision at Bethel on the first night of his journey made it impossible for him to ever think of Mesopotamia as his home. Gen. 31:3

Application: Don’t return go back more foward. This life and this world is going to throw many things at you.

But understand, this is not your home you are only passing through until you reach your final destination either at our death or the return of Jesus.

III. The faithful desire a better country Vs.16

Those of faith do not desire this broken-down world nor the things of it. Our hearts desire is a better place.

Heavenly City

Citizenship in Heaven.

Phil. 3:20

Heavenly Jerusalem

Heb. 12:22

New Jerusalem. A city where the troubles of this world don’t exist.

There will be a day with no more tears, no more pain, and no more fearsThere will be a day when the burdens of this place,Will be no more, we'll see Jesus face to face.

A place so perfect, free of sin that our relationship with God will be fully restored.

This is what Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob was focused on.

This is what the Hebrews of the Diaspora should have been focused on.

This is what we must be focused on!

B. Prepared by God.

John 14:1-4

This placed is prepared for us by the hands of Jesus Himself.

Application: This world has things which are appealing, don’t focus on them, set your eyes on the prize.

These world has troubles, do let your heart be troubled.

This is not your home if you trust is God’s faithfulness to deliver through the blood of Jesus.

This world is not our home, we are just a passing through. Our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon us from heaven's open door, And we can't feel at home in this world anymore. Oh lord you know we have no friend like you, If heaven's not our home then lord what will we do. The angels beckon us from heaven's open door And we can't feel at home in this world anymore

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