Journaling through Hebrews 11:13-16 (Radiant journal): Faith in the forever promises

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

When all these people died, they didn’t get to see promised things come true as of yet. They knew the Christ was to come, and they knew that he would do incredible things. And they looked forward to it. But when they were finished with life on earth, they died in faith, knowing that God is forever and his promises always come true, even if not in their lifetime.

Their short life in the big picture of God’s plan wasn’t for nothing. And the promises to them were not void. For they were longing a better home, a city and country that is heavenly, pure and good forever. And that promise came true. Their faith carried them from their life working for God to eternal life and joy in God.

We are working now, but we Home isn’t that far away. And it’s beautiful:

Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. - Revelation 22:1-5

This is from a Radiant journal (a journal designed for preteens girls to start studying the Bible in a bite-size way), that studies through Hebrews 11, an amazing chapter that gives us perspective on stories of the Old Testament with a New Testament perspective!

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