Hebrews 11:16 – “But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”
Today’s verse lies smack dab in the middle of the Hebrews “Hall of Faith”. The entire chapter lists the names of many mighty men and women of God who went through dire situations but survived by faith. It even talks of those who were tortured for their faith and killed. No, it wasn’t easy to be a Christian, but these people did not let their circumstances dictate the level of their faith.
How could someone go through extreme persecution and still trust God? It was only because they were confident in their identity as children of God. They knew that even if they were going through trials now, it wouldn’t be forever. They trusted that God knew what He was doing. Their sacrifices would not be in vain. If the early apostles hadn’t risked their lives for the Gospel, we might not even have heard about Jesus. God must have been so proud of His children who trusted Him in the midst of their pain and suffering. In turn, He has prepared a heavenly city for them.
We may never have to risk our lives to defend our faith. But does our lifestyle reflect the glory of God? Do we live everyday with the focus on God and not on ourselves? Let’s change our perspective a bit in the coming days. Let’s think less about our wants, goals, hopes and desires, and think more about God’s purpose for our lives. Go ahead and ask God how you can serve Him wholeheartedly with what you have. A life lived in service to God is truly the best.
