"Faith's Fixed Focus"

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. And they admitted that they were aliens and 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 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.  Hebrews 11:13-16.

I think that whenever I die (unless Christ returns and I meet Him in the air), I want it to be said of me, "She was still living by faith when she died."  What an awesome thing to have said about you.  Can you imagine what your life would look like if you believed God consistently and in every situation?  Oh, I want that so much.  It is a desire of my heart.   Sure, I still have other earthly desires:  like watching my girls grow up, accept Christ, marry godly men, and have children of their own...but what if I don't get to see those things for one reason or another.  On one level, that scares me and my stomach becomes a bit queasy.  On another level, though, I know I must trust God and trust his heart.
There may be some desires and goals that I have that will not be met here on this earth.  But, I do have so many wonderful promises for the life to come.

We see some distinct characteristics of the people in the "hall of faith" in the above verses.

1)  No matter what circumstances, suffering, loss, joys, rejections, you name it...these people were still living by faith, right up to the end.  They persevered.  They didn't give up when things became hard.  Sure, they made wrong decisions sometimes, but all in all, they stuck it out with God.  When things go wrong in our lives, what is our first reaction?  Honestly, sometimes I can just get angry.  Others whine and shout "Woe is me,"  others isolate themselves.  Even when I have this kind of reaction, I usually come around and back on my knees before God, but I'd love to not have an angry reaction anymore.  I would love to be a Christian who actually said and believed, "this trial is going to purify me, refine me, and build my character---so it is a good thing."

2)  They didn't receive what was promised while they were alive, but still believed those promises would come in heaven.  All of the OT leaders and prophets who followed God didn't have the Messiah.  Everything they did pointed to Jesus, but his finishing work on the cross had not yet been completed.  But, they believed in God's plan for the ages--even though they never received the fullness of it in their lifetime on earth.  Wow.

3) They ADMITTED they were aliens and strangers on this earth.  How many of us ADMIT we don't belong here.  I think few of us do.  In fact, we do everything we can to try and FIT IN here, don't we?
This is the part of the verse that convicts me.  Am I spending more time trying to fit in, or more time looking ahead to my real home?  I honestly would have to say that I have spent way too much time doing the former rather than the latter.   We are in the world, yes; but we do not have to be of the world.

I will ask the question again,  how much do we long for heaven?  Do we think about it enough, and in such a way that our days are different?  The people in Hebrews 11 were obviously fixated on their future home with God.  They were focused on eternal things.  Because of this faith, they accomplished amazing things for God.  I wonder what would happen in my life and in the lives of those around me if I started thinking in this way more.  I think I would seize every single opportunity God puts in my path.  I would be bold, more loving, more compassionate, and more giving of myself to Him and to others.  I just can't get over how attached to this world I can be.   Of course, God wants us to enjoy the earth that he has given to us, and the relationships He has ordained, but we tend to make those things the focus rather than Him.  All of those things are meant to point us TO Him, not away FROM Him.  Our faith is supposed to be fixed on Him.  When our eyes are fixed on him, we can endure many things with joy and peace. 

One of my dad's favorite sermons by Charles Stanley is entitled, "Faith's Fixed Focus."   He first gave the sermon many years ago.   I remember listening to that sermon several times--a couple of those times in the car with my parents.  Even as a teenager, this sermon left its mark on me.  

Okay, time out!  God is so awesome!  After I typed the last sentence about Stanley's sermon, I thought I'd go over to oneplace.com to see if I could find a link to an archive of this sermon.  Oneplace.com is a great website where you can listen to sermons from hundreds of pastors.  I was hoping I could look way back in the archive to find it.  My jaw dropped and eyes popped open wide as I looked at the broadcast that popped up--first thing! (its actually marked August 7, 2009). Guess what the sermon was??  "FAITH'S FIXED FOCUS!"  God, you are so amazing!!!  Okay,  I know now that when this sermon came to my mind it was totally the Holy Spirit!   The site for part 1 is http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/In_Touch_Ministries/archives.asp?bcd=8/7/2009
The site for part 2 is http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/In_Touch_Ministries/archives.asp?bcd=8/10/2009  I have not listened to this sermon in YEARS and it was the first broadcast that came up!  I didn't even have to search for it!   Okay, that should increase someone's faith!  If you are reading this blog, you are supposed to listen to this sermon!  Go listen!!

Isn't our God amazing--even with computers and the internet!  :)

Okay, go listen!  Really!