But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly; wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He hath prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:16
There is something very appealing about the motto of one of the candidates for election to the US presidency: Make America great again. This motto has a strong patriotic ring to it that helped this candidate gather a large amount of support. And it’s a worthy goal, no doubt about it. There is certainly nothing wrong for Americans to desire that their country rise to the greatness of its former days. Some of them are saddened by the descent of that nation into moral decay and godlessness. And they are right to be sad. Some are alarmed at the seizure by the president of powers never given to that office by the constitution. And they are right to be alarmed. Some are enraged at the giving of ‘wherever-I-want’ bathroom rights to morally degenerate people at the cost of disposing of the rights of decent people to privacy and morality. And they are right to be enraged. Some are disappointed at the disgraced and hated image of their country in foreign lands that causes many Americans to pin Canadian flags on their coats and luggage to avoid abuse by locals. And they are right to be disappointed. So a candidate’s call for a return to true greatness is very attractive. It is natural and right for them to want their country to be better. But as Christians, we are not to desire our country to be better, but to desire a better country.
Our text is speaking primarily of Abraham, God’s called-out man. Abraham is a wonderful example for us, in his obedience to God’s call. First, God called him out of Ur of the Chaldees. It was undoubtedly a fine town, but God had something better for Abraham, just has He has something better for us than what we were living in before God reached us and saved us. Just as Abraham left Ur for a better land, so we must leave behind all of that which pertains to our old life. God has better things for us, and He leads us out of the things of the world into godliness, faithfulness, and service to our Lord.
God also called Abraham not to settle down in Canaan, but to look to the future for his blessing. Abraham got along well with his neighbours, and they respected him for his righteous living, but Abraham did not set about to change Canaan from its rank idolatry and immorality. No, he displayed the type of character that was appropriate for a man of God, and set his sights on what God was to do for him in generations yet to come. God wants us to do the same, because He never intended us to reform this sin soaked and judgment bound world. We are to live a good testimony for God and lay hold like Abraham on a glorious future.
We cannot make our country better, but we can make our way to a better country that our God has prepared for us. – Jim MacIntosh