These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Hebrews 11:13
How old is our earth? Evolutionists and gap theorists aside, a straightforward reading of Scripture places the earth’s age at somewhere between seven and eight thousand years. And how much longer will the earth be around for? That’s a harder one to answer, but a careful study of Scripture will reveal it will exist for at least one thousand and seven years – and nobody knows how much more. In total, earth’s time is incredibly short, compared to the beginningless, endless sphere called eternity. It’s not hard to determine which is the most important and the more enduring. But the world can’t see that far ahead. The world pours oceans of concrete and sinks massive piles deep into the earth in order to provide foundations for buildings that will shortly crumble away. In sharp contrast, the eye of faith sees the futility of building for time and the security of building for eternity.
Those of us who are getting older can relate to our text’s reference to those who died in faith without having received the promises. We have laid loved ones and companions in the soil as their time expired without having received the promise of the Lord’s return. That may well be our lot as well, we cannot tell. But were those who died the losers for not having received? Of course not! They could see the fulfilment of those promises afar off. They knew they were true, and they staked all on that assurance. It was not that they didn’t receive, it was that they didn’t receive YET.
Just as the finite, fleeting things of earth held no value for the heroes of the faith in ages past, so we today can view the values of eternity and lose our fixation on time and things, which are but fuel for a coming fire. We need to get a clear view of the promises of God for those who love His appearing. We need – as our text reminds us – to be persuaded of them, we need to embrace them and rejoice in their reality. To do so, we have to know about them. That means we need to be deep into the Word, searching out the promises of God for His people.
Are God’s promises precious to you? What promises have you embraced? Earth’s promises fade in the glory of God’s assurances. – Jim MacIntosh