The Vision (LHCOC)
The Vision
Hebrews 11:13-16
Introduction:
1. Last week I preached for a homecoming at a church in middle TN.
a. I spoke with a man that I remembered from last time I was there a few years back.
b. He told me he now had bone cancer and there was not much that could be done. He told me of how he really struggled with this disease for an extended period of time, but when he turned his situation over to God, and left it in His hands, he found much comfort and relief.
c. As I was leaving I told him goodbye and that I would be praying for him. He then asked me a question, with tears in his eyes, that I was not prepared for, he said, “Do you ever pray that you will be able to keep the faith?”
2. This world does a lot to distract us.
a. Sickness, death, pain, suffering, disease, drug abuse, lying, stealing, cheating, etc., can all cause us to get sidetracked from staying focused on what is most important -- heaven.
b. We must remember, all of these things DID NOT ORIGINATE WITH THE FATHER, but all came as a result of Adam’s sin.
3. Even though much of our NT is about heaven, and many of our songs remind us of heaven, it is easy to take our eye off the prize when trials come.
4. In the faith chapter of the Bible, Hebrews 11, we read in verse 13 and following:
a. “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. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now, they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be their God for He has prepared a city for them.”
b. How did the Patriarchs stay focused on the goal despite their many distractions? A: They kept their eye on the target.
5. Let’s look at five keys to their success, right from the text:
Discussion:
I. THEY WERE CONFIDENT – 13a
A. “These all died in faith, not having received the promises…”
1. In Hebrews chapter 11, the writer uses an interesting pair of words, “by faith.”
a. Here the contrast is clear, “in faith” (different construction in Greek).
b. i.e. the Patriarchs died faithful, or as Paul put it in 2 Tim.4:7, “I have kept the faith.”
2. We would do well to note that God looks at the whole of one’s life and not the little mistakes.
a. Abraham went down in history as a man of great faith.
b. Yet on two separate occasions his lack of trust in God caused him to stretch the truth and say the Sarah was his sister and not his wife.
B. We must be confident if we are to keep our vision clear (1 Jn.5:13).
1. I think this is one area many members of the church may need to improve in.
a. Brethren we can know we are saved (1 Jn.5:13).
b. "These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God"
2. As long as we continue to grow in the Lord, live the right example, make the right adjustments when we fall short, we can know we have a home in heaven.
3. There is no reason for a Christian to go through life feeling like he is walking a tightrope (i.e. in and out of a relationship with God).
II. THEY HAD VISION – 13b
A. “But having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth …”
1. The faithful Patriarchs saw only a glimpse of what was promised to them.
a. Sure Abraham believed God would take care of his family in the new land, sure Abraham knew his descendants would be blessed, but his focus was on something greater.
b. John 8:56 speaks of how Abraham looked to the day of the Messiah.
c. Verses 14-16 clearly show that what they longed for would require life after death.
2. Abraham and Jacob both confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims upon this earth.
a. Abraham made this confession near the end of his life (Gen.23:4).
b. Jacob told Pharaoh almost the same words (Gen.47:9).
c. “Their use of the same language suggests that it was a common expression which the patriarchs used as part of their everyday speech.” (Truth for Today Commentary Hebrews pg.456)a
3. Definition of Stranger and Pilgrim:
a. Albert Barnes says that, stranger in this context, is someone who “regard[s] himself as a foreigner; as having no home and no possessions there.”
b. The Greek word means for pilgrim can accurately be translated “by-resident;” i.e. one who lives by another; or among a people not his own.
c. In my life time I think of hurricane Katrina and how is displaced thousands of people into places foreign to them. Everything they possessed was destroyed, they were strangers and pilgrims.
B. We must look farther than the present if we are to succeed (1 Pet.2:11; Eph.2:19).
1. This principle is applicable in almost every area in life.
a. Long term investments are the way to go.
b. Look for a mate that will help you go to heaven.
c. Start at the bottom and work your way to the top in the workplace.
2. This principle is most applicable to the spiritual side of life.
a. A good saying to keep in mind to help us look to the future is: “Whatever you do, do it in view of eternity.”
b. Peter reminds us that those things that lead us away from God war against our soul: "Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul" - 1 Peter 2:11
c. Paul reminds us that this earth is not our home, but as Christians we are a part of something far greater: "Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God" - Ephesians 2:19.
III. THEY WERE NOT DISTRACTED – 14
A. “For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland.”
1. The patriarchs knew what they wanted and nothing was going to stop them from getting it.
2. From Abraham all the way up until around the time of David and Solomon, God’s people did not have a place they could truly call home.
a. While Israel could call Jerusalem home after the temple was erected, this peace would be short lived.
b. The kingdom would be divided, the people would go into captivity, and then be back at square one.
c. Even during the Christian age, we see many times in the book of Acts where Christians were scattered abroad.
d. The epistle of 1 Peter was written to who were pilgrims (1:1).
3. It could have been easy for those of times past to give up because of distractions in their walk of life, but we are not talking about the average men and women of faith when we read Hebrews 11, we are discussing those who have been inducted by the HS into the “Hall of Faith.”
B. Despite obstacles that come our way, we must not be distracted (1 Pet.5:8; Eph.6:16).
1. We may lose our home on earth, but we must not give up our hope of a heavenly home.
2. We may become frustrated, but we must not lose focus.
3. We may become discouraged, but we must never become defeated.
4. We may come to the end of the road, but we must not take our eyes of the goal.
5. The devil uses many different devices to try to get us to look away from the goal of heaven.
a. We must be prepared for battle, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." - 1 Peter 5:8.
b. We must be prepared for battle no matter what comes our way, "above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one." - Ephesians 6:16.
IV. THEY HAD DISCERNMENT – 15-16a
A. “And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.”
1. The patriarchs knew the difference between the temporal and the eternal.
2. There was nothing preventing the Abraham from going back to Ur or Haran, but he was not seeking this country, he was quick to confess that he was a stranger and pilgrim in search of a HEAVENLY home.
B. As people of faith, we must have the ability to distinguish between the temporal and the eternal (2 Cor.4:18; Matt.6:19-21).
1. The majority of people live as if this world is the only world.
a. They store up all the material possessions they can. They want the nicest things money can by.
b. We always come to two problems when we discuss material possessions:
i. You will never be satisfied, and will always want more.
ii. Material things will not go with you in the after life.
2. What is important to us?
a. Paul said, "While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal." - 2 Corinthians 4:18.
b. Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21.
3. Are we quick to confess what is important to us? Do we have the ability to distinguish between the temporal and the eternal? We must if we are to succeed in this life and the one to come.
V. THEY KNEW THEY WERE SECURE – 16b
A. “Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”
1. They knew who they worked for.
2. They knew who was in control.
3. They knew God had His best intentions in mind for them.
4. Although Abraham did not know exactly what would happen when God told him to sacrifice Isaac, he did know everything was going to work out for the best (Heb.11:17-19).
B. We must remind ourselves that if we are on God’s side, we are safe (Jn.10:28; Rom.8:28).
1. Strangers and illegal aliens often experience hardship, social ostracism, and economic deprivation.
a. We are not free from pain and suffering in this old world, but we can be sure that God will take care of us in the end.
b. "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." - Romans 8:28.
2. No matter how bad things get, we must not forget this, the patriarchs didn’t.
Conclusion:
1. I want to close with a passage of scripture that teaches a great truth that every Christian should know and embrace (Jn.10:22-30).
a. Are you one of Jesus’ sheep?
b. Have you heard His voice, i.e. obeyed His commands?
c. Does He know you?
d. Are you following Him in every way in your life?
e. Well if you answered yes to these questions, leave here tonight refreshed and renewed knowing that you are safe in the Father’s hand, and there is not ANYONE can do to get you out.
2. Did you answer no to any of the questions mentioned above?
a. Why not make things right today so you too, can leave here tonight renewed?
b. No one can make the decision for you; you must make the decision for yourself.