Hebrews 11:8-9 - "By faith Abraham, when he was
called,obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive as an
inheritance; and he went out not knowing where he was going. By faith he
lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same
promise."
Abraham's beliefs affected his desires and also his lifestyle, and this is true for all of us. What you believe has an effect on how you live. It just does, you may or may not realize it, but we do certain things because we believe certain things. This is why lifestyle can be a pretty accurate gauge of whether or not a person is genuinely seeking another country. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew chapter 7, "You will know them by their fruit." Christ-followers are going to be known, not by what they say, but by what they do. the way we live is a pretty accurate indication of whether or not we're truly following Christ.
We have confessed that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth, but do we live like it? What is the lifestyle of a pilgrim? According to Hebrews chapter 11 Abraham lived the entirety of his life as an alien in a foreign land, and there are a couple of things that characterized his pilgrimage.
The first characteristic we see in these verses is obedience. "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed..." When the Lord spoke to Abraham he obeyed. We see this in his initial calling in Genesis 12. When the Lord called him to go out from his country, his relatives and his fathers house Abraham went. In Genesis chapter 22 when the Lord told Abraham to take his only begotten son, whom he loved, and offer him as a sacrifice to God, Abraham obeyed. We know that the Lord stopped him at the last minute, but nevertheless, even here Abraham was obedient to God. And the Lord tells Abraham in that chapter that in his seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed, "because you have obeyed My voice." And over in Genesis chapter 26 the Lord reiterates this to Isaac, saying, "by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because Abraham obeyed Me."
Abraham's beliefs affected his desires and also his lifestyle, and this is true for all of us. What you believe has an effect on how you live. It just does, you may or may not realize it, but we do certain things because we believe certain things. This is why lifestyle can be a pretty accurate gauge of whether or not a person is genuinely seeking another country. The Lord Jesus said in Matthew chapter 7, "You will know them by their fruit." Christ-followers are going to be known, not by what they say, but by what they do. the way we live is a pretty accurate indication of whether or not we're truly following Christ.
We have confessed that we are strangers and pilgrims on the earth, but do we live like it? What is the lifestyle of a pilgrim? According to Hebrews chapter 11 Abraham lived the entirety of his life as an alien in a foreign land, and there are a couple of things that characterized his pilgrimage.
The first characteristic we see in these verses is obedience. "By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed..." When the Lord spoke to Abraham he obeyed. We see this in his initial calling in Genesis 12. When the Lord called him to go out from his country, his relatives and his fathers house Abraham went. In Genesis chapter 22 when the Lord told Abraham to take his only begotten son, whom he loved, and offer him as a sacrifice to God, Abraham obeyed. We know that the Lord stopped him at the last minute, but nevertheless, even here Abraham was obedient to God. And the Lord tells Abraham in that chapter that in his seed all the nations of the earth will be blessed, "because you have obeyed My voice." And over in Genesis chapter 26 the Lord reiterates this to Isaac, saying, "by your descendants all the nations of the earth shall be blessed because Abraham obeyed Me."
So
Abraham lived a life of obedience, and specifically in Hebrews chapter
11, when he was called he went out, even though he didn't know where he
was going.
Another characteristic of Abraham's life
is that he dwelt in tents. Hebrews 11:9 says - "By faith he
lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same
promise." Many people enjoy
camping, but I don't know anyone who would want to spend their entire
life living in a tent. And yet when the Lord called Abraham to go out,
he was content to spend the rest of his life dwelling in a tent. It
would be obvious to anyone looking on that his residence was not
permanent. He was dwelling in a tent.
Proverbs 14:11 says - "The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish." This verse is talking about the dwelling places of both the wicked and the upright, and the structures that are mentioned are vastly different. And if we pause to consider what Solomon says here we might ask ourselves the question, why do the wicked get houses while the upright are dwelling in tents? A house is more permanent, more comfortable and more secure than a tent. A tent is just a temporary structure that is not all that comfortable or secure. However, according to this verse the house of the wicked will not last, it will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. For the wicked, this life is all they have. They seek to prosper here, they establish a house which they assume will last, but it will be destroyed. The righteous, however, dwell in tents, not permanent structures, but then again we are not permanent residents of this world. Throughout the Word of God, both Old and New Testament, we find the righteous described as aliens and pilgrims on the earth. We just read of Abraham that by faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise. They lived on this earth as pilgrims, recognizing that this world was not their home. The reason that Abraham was able to live in this way is given in verse 10 which says - "For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." He recognized that everything this world has to offer is temporary at best. He was looking toward something invisible and permanent which could only be seen through the eyes of faith. We are strangers and pilgrims on the earth. looking for a city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Though we "dwell in tents" as it were, the tents of the righteous shall not be destroyed, but instead shall flourish. Though it may look like the house of the wicked is prospering, we must keep it in perspective. Though they seem to be doing well for a time it's not going to last. Everything that this world has to offer will pass away. Which connects Proverbs 14:11 to the next verse, which says - "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." It seems right to dwell in a house rather than in a tent. Logically, a house is going to last much longer. It just makes good common sense, but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. It doesn't make sense to live as a pilgrim unless there truly is a better country to which we are traveling. The flesh would say, "Dwell in a house, establish yourself here. Get comfortable!" But we need to have an eternal perspective. Colossians 3:2 instructs us to - "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." Look to those things which are unseen, for as 2 Corinthians chapter 4 says "the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." It may seem right to focus on the temporal, "but the end thereof is the way of death." And the ironic thing is that, though this life as a pilgrim may be uncomfortable, unestablished and insecure, Proverbs 14:32 says - "The righteous has a refuge when he dies." Though we dwell in tents as pilgrims on the earth, after we die we have an eternal refuge. Not merely a house, but a stronghold, a city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Proverbs 14:11 says - "The house of the wicked will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish." This verse is talking about the dwelling places of both the wicked and the upright, and the structures that are mentioned are vastly different. And if we pause to consider what Solomon says here we might ask ourselves the question, why do the wicked get houses while the upright are dwelling in tents? A house is more permanent, more comfortable and more secure than a tent. A tent is just a temporary structure that is not all that comfortable or secure. However, according to this verse the house of the wicked will not last, it will be destroyed, but the tent of the upright will flourish. For the wicked, this life is all they have. They seek to prosper here, they establish a house which they assume will last, but it will be destroyed. The righteous, however, dwell in tents, not permanent structures, but then again we are not permanent residents of this world. Throughout the Word of God, both Old and New Testament, we find the righteous described as aliens and pilgrims on the earth. We just read of Abraham that by faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise. They lived on this earth as pilgrims, recognizing that this world was not their home. The reason that Abraham was able to live in this way is given in verse 10 which says - "For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God." He recognized that everything this world has to offer is temporary at best. He was looking toward something invisible and permanent which could only be seen through the eyes of faith. We are strangers and pilgrims on the earth. looking for a city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Though we "dwell in tents" as it were, the tents of the righteous shall not be destroyed, but instead shall flourish. Though it may look like the house of the wicked is prospering, we must keep it in perspective. Though they seem to be doing well for a time it's not going to last. Everything that this world has to offer will pass away. Which connects Proverbs 14:11 to the next verse, which says - "There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death." It seems right to dwell in a house rather than in a tent. Logically, a house is going to last much longer. It just makes good common sense, but God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. It doesn't make sense to live as a pilgrim unless there truly is a better country to which we are traveling. The flesh would say, "Dwell in a house, establish yourself here. Get comfortable!" But we need to have an eternal perspective. Colossians 3:2 instructs us to - "Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth." Look to those things which are unseen, for as 2 Corinthians chapter 4 says "the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal." It may seem right to focus on the temporal, "but the end thereof is the way of death." And the ironic thing is that, though this life as a pilgrim may be uncomfortable, unestablished and insecure, Proverbs 14:32 says - "The righteous has a refuge when he dies." Though we dwell in tents as pilgrims on the earth, after we die we have an eternal refuge. Not merely a house, but a stronghold, a city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
So
does this mean that all believers need to sell everything we have, move
out of our houses and spend the rest of our days living in tents? No,
but we do need to live with the mindset that we're not permanent
residents here, and if we have that mindset then we will be holding
loosely to the things that we have. When we truly believe that we're
heading toward our permanent home, a city which has foundations whose
architect and builder is God, we won't try to hold tightly to the
comforts, pleasures and securities of this world.
To live as pilgrims doesn't necessarily mean living in tents, but we should be willing to do it if that's what God calls us to do. God called Abraham to go out and he went. He couldn't take his house with him. For Abraham obeying God meant living in tents. Again, it's about obedience. This life is transient, so location shouldn't be an issue. We should be willing to live in one place as well as another. Residence shouldn't matter either, we should be able to live in a one room shack as well as a mansion. But even at that suggestion we might cringe. We all have our own preferences, and when we think of the idea of living in a one room shack or dwelling in a tent we may say, 'I don't think I could do that. I really don't think I have what it takes to be able to live like that.' And most of us feel that way. But it's actually in the context of talking about his lifestyle that the apostle Paul wrote that famous verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." We're familiar with this verse and we use it in all sorts of different circumstances, and that's good. But when we look at the verse in it's context we discover that Paul is talking about his lifestyle. He writes in verses 10-13 - "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Paul's circumstances often changed. Sometimes he was living on the go, traveling from town to town, other times he would settle in for a while, and at other times he would be confined to a prison cell. Sometimes he had plenty to eat, other times he didn't have anything to eat. Sometimes he had an overabundance, other times he had severe needs. But he says here that he learned to be content in whatever circumstances he found himself, whether it meant the comfort of a house, the impermanence of a tent, or the cold chains and wretched stench of a dark prison cell. How was he able to live content in any of these circumstances? "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
A.W.Tozer wrote, "The weakness of so many modern Christians is that they feel too much at home in the world. In their effort to achieve restful "adjustment" to unregenerate society they have lost their pilgrim character and become an essential part of the very moral order against which they are sent to protest." God may not be calling you to live in a tent, but if He did would you do it? Or are you too settled in to what you're used to? Is the pursuit of your life earthly comfort, or are you seeking a better country? What does your lifestyle say about you? Is it apparent to everyone around you that you are a pilgrim who is seeking a better country, or is your lifestyle indistinguishable from that of your pagan neighbors? These are questions that we need to consider long and hard. What world are we living for? We need to live with the continual mindset that we're not permanent residents of this world, we're just passing through. We are aliens in a foreign land.
To live as pilgrims doesn't necessarily mean living in tents, but we should be willing to do it if that's what God calls us to do. God called Abraham to go out and he went. He couldn't take his house with him. For Abraham obeying God meant living in tents. Again, it's about obedience. This life is transient, so location shouldn't be an issue. We should be willing to live in one place as well as another. Residence shouldn't matter either, we should be able to live in a one room shack as well as a mansion. But even at that suggestion we might cringe. We all have our own preferences, and when we think of the idea of living in a one room shack or dwelling in a tent we may say, 'I don't think I could do that. I really don't think I have what it takes to be able to live like that.' And most of us feel that way. But it's actually in the context of talking about his lifestyle that the apostle Paul wrote that famous verse, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." We're familiar with this verse and we use it in all sorts of different circumstances, and that's good. But when we look at the verse in it's context we discover that Paul is talking about his lifestyle. He writes in verses 10-13 - "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Paul's circumstances often changed. Sometimes he was living on the go, traveling from town to town, other times he would settle in for a while, and at other times he would be confined to a prison cell. Sometimes he had plenty to eat, other times he didn't have anything to eat. Sometimes he had an overabundance, other times he had severe needs. But he says here that he learned to be content in whatever circumstances he found himself, whether it meant the comfort of a house, the impermanence of a tent, or the cold chains and wretched stench of a dark prison cell. How was he able to live content in any of these circumstances? "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
A.W.Tozer wrote, "The weakness of so many modern Christians is that they feel too much at home in the world. In their effort to achieve restful "adjustment" to unregenerate society they have lost their pilgrim character and become an essential part of the very moral order against which they are sent to protest." God may not be calling you to live in a tent, but if He did would you do it? Or are you too settled in to what you're used to? Is the pursuit of your life earthly comfort, or are you seeking a better country? What does your lifestyle say about you? Is it apparent to everyone around you that you are a pilgrim who is seeking a better country, or is your lifestyle indistinguishable from that of your pagan neighbors? These are questions that we need to consider long and hard. What world are we living for? We need to live with the continual mindset that we're not permanent residents of this world, we're just passing through. We are aliens in a foreign land.
The
lifestyle of a pilgrim is a life of trust. How was Abraham able to live
in the way that he did? "By faith." But faith is never isolated, it's
always accompanied by obedience. Trust and obey. That's what we
see throughout Hebrews chapter 11, not just with Abraham
but with all the examples. They saw the invisible and it impacted the
way that they lived. The invisible things were more real to them than
the things which are seen. The eternal was more clear to them than the
temporal. And that caused them to live counter-culturally. That caused
them to do things that the world saw as foolish. It caused Noah to build
an ark before a drop of rain ever fell. It caused Moses to give up all
the treasures of Egypt and to suffer hardship with the people of God. It
caused Abraham to give up his home and spend his life dwelling tents.
They confessed that thy
were strangers on the earth. They desired a better country that is a
heavenly one, therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God,
for He has prepared a city for them.
