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“If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.”
Hebrews 11:15-16
How did the faithful greats of the Old Testament persevere in their journey with God?
Perhaps we are given an inkling to the answer here in Hebrews 11 – a living and robust faith. The giants of the Old Testament like Noah and Abraham (V1-11) had a strong faith that “saw” the promised land, took hold of it, and never lost sight of it. They did not look back. They did not lament how good their old way of life was. They would not have persevered in their journey with God if they had done so.
Instead, faith inspired them to hold on to God’s promises no matter what the circumstance. Their faith inspired them to persevere. To be clear, perseverance is not about persisting with the impossible; it is persisting with the possible no matter how impossible it may seem. And faith is the fuel for that persistence!
But more than that, their faith was not static. Their faith was true and living, one that didn’t just sit around and wait for the promised land. It was far more active and transformational – their faith went one step further to desire the promised land.
And as their desired the promised land, that divine exchange and godly transformation began to take place. Their desires, aspirations, pursuits, priorities, the way they spent their time and the way the lived life were all transformed! That desire to reach that promised land shaped their lives.
Sadly, modern Christianity tends to water down this true and living faith by making it a mere static decision with no change to what one desires and seeks. Many who warm the pews and church seats today claim to have that faith which saves. Yet their lives display little evidence of its saving and transforming power. The way that many Christians continue to chase after the things of the world makes one wonder whether they really believe heaven exists.
In contrast to the modern church, the giants of the faith were always desiring something better than what our earthly existence could offer. They had been so gripped by God that nothing short of heaven and His presence would satisfy. They could not hold on to old desires and pursuits of riches, fame and power. Instead, these old desires were replaced with holy desires of loving God and loving our neighbour which were expressed through faithful living.
How did the Old Testament giants preserve? They had faith to keep their eyes focused on the promise land and they let that transform their desires and pursuits here on earth. The Christian life is not about making it big or comfortable. It is about make it to the promised land, that is heaven and pointing many others there as well.
Archbishop Titus Chung
Primate of the Province of South East Asia
