A few weeks ago I read this
Heb. 11: 8-10
8. By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going.Have you ever had a "aha!" moment? I did when I read those verses. It was so real to me, I could honestly say "I know what you mean Abraham. I want a foundation too."
9. By faith he went to live in a land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise.
10. For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.
I believe these verses sum up the last few years of our life. Granted we did not move to Australia to receive our inheritance. We will be getting ours when we arrive in heaven. The travel though I can understand, obeying when called to go, the not knowing, the foreign land, the "tents." (tents = house sitting and rental houses)
When I read this I was still struggling with the decision of not buying this house. Home ownership is so ingrained in Western society. Our decision has made us feel a bit like trout heading up stream. The western world sees a house as part of the retirement security. I was wrestling with this question, "how are we going to be ready for retirement if we don't own a house." Do what we can without stressing. God will provide as he did for Abraham. Like Abraham our true retirement is in heaven.
The last verse was so soothing to me. Here was someone else that longed for a foundation! We at least get to live in houses, Abraham was traveling around in tents. It is easy to head into the realm of self- pity. You can constantly be asking yourself, why me? Sometimes the lesson takes a little bit longer to sink in. Perhaps like Abraham the only foundation belonging to us will be the one built by God and found when we reach heaven. I can say now that I am OK with that. As long as we can rent a house a bit warmer than the one we are in now, all is well :-)
From Matthew Henry's commentary on Hebrews
3. The supports of Abraham's faith (v. 10): He looked for a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Observe here, (1.) The description given of heaven: it is a city, a regular society, well established, well defended, and well supplied: it is a city that hath foundations, even the immutable purposes and almighty power of God, the infinite merits and mediation of the Lord Jesus Christ, the promises of an everlasting covenant, its own purity, and the perfection of its inhabitants: and it is a city whose builder and maker is God. He contrived the model; he accordingly made it, and he has laid open a new and living way into it, and prepared it for his people; he puts them into possession of it, prefers them in it, and is himself the substance and felicity of it. (2.) Observe the due regard that Abraham had to this heavenly city: he looked for it; he believed there was such a state; he waited for it, and in the mean time he conversed in it by faith; he had exalted and rejoicing hopes, that in God's time and way he should be brought safely to it. (3.) The influence this had upon his present conversation: it was a support to him under all the trials of his sojourning state, helped him patiently to bear all the inconveniences of it, and actively to discharge all the duties of it, persevering therein unto the end.Two other thoughts from this passage.
1. To value once more the hardships we go through. In my experience they lead to a personal identification with specific Scripture passages.
2. Again, I can truly say God's word is living and active. Writings thousands of years old are still relevant to my life in 2010. I can personally identify with a male nomad walking through the Sinai peninsula thousands of years ago. How strange, cool, and awesome is that?
