Just Passing Through

“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”

Hebrews 11 : 13 - 16 (NIV)

Scripture reading: Hebrews 11

Post by: Matt G

With everyone’s lives quickly thrown off course, we are given the opportunity to examine the things around us a little more closely. Though most of us are still allowed to enjoy the comforts of our own homes, many of life’s other pleasures are being withheld from us. With so many individuals enduring financial hardship, the exercise of examining what we have, determining what’s necessary, and making sacrifices is becoming a common practice. We start to realize that we don’t need to drive a specific type of car, constantly frequent higher-end restaurants, or take the exotic vacations we had planned.

This period of disruption is a good time to assess and realign our values. When life is in constant motion, it’s easy for us to only focus on the tangible pleasures this world has to offer. These pleasures can be found in career aspirations, forms of entertainment, or relationship goals. We should take this time to remind ourselves of who we truly are and for whom we’ve been called to live our lives. It’s easy to forget that the attainment of pleasure in this life is a temporary distraction in the midst of a journey, rather than a destination itself.

In Hebrews 11:15-16, when talking about the faith of Biblical titans Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; Paul writes, “If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one…” God’s true followers have a comfort in understanding that they do not belong to this world; therefore they do not focus on the things of this world. They are motivated by what is ahead, their spiritual home. In their journey to their spiritual home they are not distracted by what this world has to offer. They are driven on, in faith, to what God has planned and prepared for them, allowing them to experience a level of fulfillment and pleasure that cannot be found in this world.

Photo by Francesco Ungaro on Unsplash