Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

WHAT WERE THEY THINKING? Part 2

This entry was posted on 04-21-2009 and is filed under FAITH.

"If they had been thinking with [homesick] remembrance of that country from which they were emigrants, they would have found constant opportunity to return to it; But the truth is that they were yearning for and aspiring to a better and more desirable country, that is, a heavenly [one]" (Heb. 11:15, 16a, Amplified New Testament).

If people like Abraham (who left Ur) had allowed themselves to dwell in the past, constantly longing to go back home, they would have had plenty of opportunities to do so. I mean, how hard is it to make a u-turn and head back? But all of these heroes of faith in this chapter had something in common. They were homesick all right but homesick for heaven! Through the eye of faith they saw a heavenly country. They knew that there was more to life than this land and living in this land. I wonder if we do? This land was not made for you and me to live here forever. Earth is simply the launching pad for eternity.

So, what were they thinking? Not too much of this place, that's for sure. In June I will be speaking at a Bible conference where I have been assigned a text from Colossians 3. "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things." We probably disobey that injunction more than any other in the Bible. We are more earthly-minded that we are heavenly- minded. The Living Bible translates this verse, "Don't spend your time worrying about things down here." Why? Because we are headed "up there." We will spend eternity "up there." Let's start thinking like these heroes of faith thought.

Hymn: "There is a habitation, built by the living God, for all of every nation who seek that grand abode. O Zion, lovely Zion, I long thy gates to see, O lovely Zion, lovely Zion, when shall I dwell in thee?" (Love H. Jameson)