Believing When You Don’t See The Results Hebrews 11: Part 5

22 December, 2021

Hebrews 11:13-16 – All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

These heroes of faith continued their journey of faith until the very end even though they had some fluctuations in their course of journey. They did not receive what they mainly desired/ focused and what was promised to them during their lifetime, yet they continued and died in faith. Everything that had to be fulfilled on Earth was accomplished – Abraham was promised a child, and he did become the father of Isaac and they were brought to the land of Canaan. All that had to be fulfilled as a believer were fulfilled in Abraham’s life on earth, but they did expect much beyond that – the city of God. Moreover, they did not see the great promise of the Savior, Jesus and still, they died in faith with hope. They welcomed and saluted those promises from a distance – believing when you don’t see results.

Even in Abraham’s case, most of the promises were fulfilled before he died, and some were still pending. God will show you the things you need to see while on Earth, but some promises may be in reserve while you die, yet they all died in faith! Your life doesn’t end with your death, all the promises will be fulfilled, if not on Earth, all the remaining promises will be fulfilled in the vast stretch of eternity!

For example, Sarah died before entering the promised land, but she’s the mother of all believers who are the citizens of New Jerusalem. Even though Moses did not enter Canaan, he appeared in the mount of Jesus’ transfiguration.

It is very important to touch the finishing line in the journey of faith, and that’s why Paul urges to examine if you’re still in faith. Someone stated that Christianity is a way of death and not a way of life – Jesus gave His life so that we may live, and therefore we who live in Christ must be willing to die for Him who gave us life! Christianity does lead us to eternity, but we must die to self, just as Paul says, ‘I die daily’.

They welcomed the promises from a distance, for instance Abraham was promised by God that the nations will be blessed through his offspring, none other than Jesus; but he could only salute to that promise before he died. They did not see the promise of the Messiah. They saw a temporary nation here on Earth, but are still awaiting the kingdom that is yet to come.

“If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had the opportunity to return”:

Do not return to what you once left. Many who left Egypt were destroyed before they entered the land of Canaan, since they longed to return. If you continue to meditate on the sinful habits, the traditions and the ungodly beliefs that you once left, there are high chances that you’d return to that way of life again. Though the people physically left Egypt, they did not let go of the customs and lifestyle; inshort the people left Egypt, but Egypt did not leave them. Even after coming to faith, many continue in their old way of life – this should not be. Abraham was from a palatial house and he could have returned to his home, but he did not – he valued God’s calling above all!

Instead they longed for a better country – a heavenly one. And for this very reason, God is not ashamed to be called as their God and He is known as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob!

Though it’s a prideful thing for us to be known as God’s children and as HIs chosen, it’s not an easy thing for the One and Only to be known as our God, since we are humans with so many imperfections and shortcomings. Yet, He is willing to be known as our God, seeing us persevere in faith.

John 8:56 – Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.

Moses died without actually entering the promised land, but he saw much of the promised land of Canaan from a distance on Mount Pisgah. And he later appeared in the mount of transfiguration.

Some things may not be fulfilled even at the time of our death, but we need not be disappointed for it will be fulfilled in the appointed time. We get tensed with the thought that everything will be over with the end of our life, but our end of life on Earth is just the beginning of our life in eternity; while our legacy will continue on Earth.

Q. When do we actually need faith?
A. We need faith when we don’t see what we strongly believe
Jesus told Thomas, “Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” (John 20:29)

The ones who believe by hearing are greater than those who believe by seeing – just as the Bible acknowledges the ones who believe His Word!

Abraham, Sarah etc and many missionaries died without seeing the result of their faith, but they died in faith. And probably some time later, there was a great deliverance in what they strongly believed while they lived. (Eg: Praying Hyde – John Nelson Hyde, an American missionary who preached in the Punjab and worked fervently for the gospel, but did not see the results. Moreover he died as a sick person. His heart shifted from left to right. But many people based on their study believe that the current revival in Punjab is the harvest of what he sowed in prayers decades ago)

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Ps. Damien Antony
Born and brought up in a Christian family, Ps. Damien Antony possessed an unquenching quest for truth right from his boyhood days and eventually his relentless search led him to the Bible. He is a Revival Preacher, Bible Teacher, Leadership Trainer, Author and a Life Coach. He moves under the anointing for Prophetic, Healing, Deliverance, Inner Healing and Financial Breakthrough. God has also blessed him with an Apostolic Mandate to take the Universal Body of Christ to the next level of revelation and anointing.