Looking For That Heavenly City By Faith

By faith he sojourned in the 

land of promise, as in a strange 

country, dwelling tabernacles with

Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him

of the same promise: for he look a city

which hath foundations, whose maker

is God. Through faith herself received 

strength to conceive seed, and was

delivered of a child when she was 

past age because she judged him

faithful who had promised. therefore

sprang there even of one, and him 

as dead, so many as the stars of the

sky in multitude, and as the sand 

which is by the sea. shore innumerable.

Hebrews 11:9-12

     God is faithful to all His promises and God had promised to Abraham a land, a city, not built with the hands of man, but by God: "For when God make promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise. For men verily sear by the greater: and an oath for confirmation is to them an end of all strife. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew unto the hears of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath" (Hebrews 6:13-17). Abraham by faith sojourned in the land of promise for Abraham understood that the literal earth was not just the promise of God even though He had given this promise to Isaac, Jacob, and Canaan was the literal land of promise naturally, but there was more to the promise, that promise spoke of a city not made by man's hands: "But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an unnumerable company of angels" (Hebrews 12:22). God had given this promise of an immutable land that was above, heavenly, and all the early fathers had been given this promise and passed it on, Moses spoke of that heavenly city. But, by faith Abraham believed God and His promises. 

     Sarah also was an heir of a promise that she in her old age would be a son. For this to be possible she was given strength, power, to do so even though at first she laughed as such a thought she did believe in the faithfulness of God's promises. From the one born, Isaac, and from that birth she would become mother of nations; kings of people will be of her (Genesis 17:16). 

     God does the impossible, at least in the eyes of man it would be impossible, but for God all things are possible (Luke 18:27). When man pushes ahead of God then things turn out badly in the end as Abraham found out by moving ahead of God's promise and had a son Ishmael, and from Ishmael came those who opposes and even do today God and God's people. God is not slow to keep His promises: "The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some men count slackness; but is long suffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2Peter 3:9). Faith, Authentic Christian Faith will not run ahead of God but wait upon Him knowing full well that no matter the circumstances He will keep His promise. Authentic Christians do not become slothful, unproductive, and say that they have faith, that is not faith, James makes it clear that faith without works, whatever that "works" may be, is that by faith in action we manifest Him until He comes. Easy? NO! Possible? Yes!

     I will not write a blog Monday for I will be traveling to Mather Hospital for an examination as how to what treatment, surgery, will be needed as I have a melanoma on my nose, not a good place to have anything this serious. Pray that God will go before the doctor and give to him the strength to say, and do whatever is needed, which I believe he would do, but God can lead him to do it in the best of manner. Pray that my strength will not falter even in the face of such a serious and life-threatening cancer. No matter the outcome, heaven is our home and by faith I look for that land, that city, built by God. Thank You!

Have mercy upon me, O LORD;

      for I am weak: O LORD,

heal me for my bones are vexed....

      The LORD hath heard my supplication;

the LORD will receive my prayer.

                    Psalms 6:2,9

May your faith make you strong

Richard L. Crumb