Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent each election cycle with the hope of making our country better. But what is better? It depends on your point of view.
Too often, people settle for what seems better but it's not good enough. Better is a term of comparison. Better than what? It depends on what the comparison is.
Many people will accept the status quo and mediocrity because it's familiar and they're not willing to risk losing it for a possibility of gaining something better.
We won't risk losing what we have unless our hope for something better is stronger than our fear of loss. True faith—trust in God—enables us to see beyond the status quo and seek what God promises is better—much, much better, in fact, the best.
Scripture
Faith enabled Abraham to become a father, even though he was old and Sarah had never been able to have children. Abraham trusted that God would keep his promise. Abraham was as good as dead. Yet, from this man came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the grains of sand on the seashore.
All these people died having faith. They didn’t receive the things that God had promised them, but they saw these things coming in the distant future and rejoiced. They acknowledged that they were living as strangers with no permanent home on earth. [vss 11-13]
Those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for their own country. If they had been thinking about the country that they had left, they could have found a way to go back. Instead, these men were longing for a better country—a heavenly country. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God. He has prepared a city for them. [vss 14-16]
(Hebrews 11:11-16 GW) [Context– Hebrews 11]
Key phrase—
These men were longing for a better country—a heavenly country
Digging Deeper...
Review the Scriptures above as you answer the following questions
What are we told about Abraham and his faith? How did reality in his life seem to contradict God's promise to Him?
What promise did God make to Abraham and did it come to pass?
What is a seemingly contradictory statement made about Abraham and others before him?
What is the testimony of Abraham and Noah's faith according to these verses?
Reflection...
We Americans are free to complain about our country and have the freedom to bring change in it. But as believers, we have a better country to look forward to than any nation on this earth.
Are you longing for a better life on earth or a better country in this world? As Jesus said, "Wherever your heart is—what it longs for—is where your treasure is."
Faith isn't wishful thinking, like hoping to win the lottery. Faith is a confidence in God and all His promises. It is a hope based in our relationship with God that remains even when circumstances seem to contradict His promises.
True faith enables us to move forward when others turn back.
Make it personal...
Read through the Scripture text again as you consider and answer these questions
If these men didn't receive all that God promised, how and why did they continue to trust God?
In what way is this "better country" a fulfillment of what God promised to Abraham?
How are Abraham's and Noah's life testimonies of faith relevant for us today?
Are you longing for a "better country" and do you have assurance in your heart about that?
©2017—Word-Strong
Here's a free introduction for the book of Hebrews— Intro to studying Hebrews