Hebrews 11:13 “All these people were still living by faith when they died.
Hebrews 11:13 says, “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.”
It seems to me that having faith, though not receiving what you’re hoping for, is greater than having faith, and receiving what you wanted.
“Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God.” Does having such a faith prove integrity? Morality? Is it because it is harder to trust in God through such a difficulty, that God is pleased with such people? I’m sure there are many who have given up on trusting God when they suddenly faced problems. They’re lives were not what they hoped for; they weren’t getting what they wanted, so they gave up on obeying God. But those who remained faithful, who continued to trust that God would answer their prayers, even though it sucked all around them, they were blessed. More than blessed, they were pleasing in God’s eyes.
I can honestly say I’m not happy with everything in my life. I get frustrated, confused and discouraged. I don’t know how to remedy my problems, or even if there is a remedy. Should I give up on God and wallow in my pity? Should I just sink into a pit of despair, never to emerge?
I know that the word tells me to pray and not give up. If I keep knocking, Christ will answer. My prayers are effective and if I continue to petition God, he will answer me. Those righteous saints of old petitioned God. They trusted him, even though many never saw the fulfillment of their greatest hope: the coming of Jesus. It was never to happen in their lifetime. Never. But they trusted God anyway. And for that they were rewarded. They knew no matter what would come in this life, their reward would come in the next. The City was waiting for them. The greatest treasure was on the other side. They knew God was bigger than any problem on earth; that His plan for their lives would never be thwarted. No Philistine, demon, plague, or famine, would prevent his promises from coming to pass for them.
I too must have this kind of faith. Life sucks. People suck. This city sucks. But that doesn’t matter. I trust in Him. His plans for me will be accomplished. He promised me things and he will fulfill them. I may die waiting for it all to come about, but I will achieve my reward on the other side. I will walk through the streets of that City. I will see the mountain of God, and dwell in Paradise. That world is mine, though for now, for a little while, I may not see it.
