Devotional for the Week —24 August 2009

Devotional for the week–24 August 2009

Sermon Title: Where is my Home?
Scripture Text: Hebrews 11:1-3, 8-16

On 9th August being our National Day, we recited our pledge to our nation. It is just like us, believers and disciples of Christ, praying the Lord’s Prayer when we all declare God as our Father, and we are citizens of His Kingdom. As citizens of Singapore, we stand side by side to defend our country. As citizens of the Kingdom of God we stand up for our faith in God, our Father.

Our natural father in the early days chose to make a life in this country by faith. He could have returned to the land he came but chose to stay in Singapore, to make it their country. We benefited from the faith our fathers had in this country.

Hebrews 11:1-2
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for.

With child-like faith, we recite the National Pledge of citizenship to play a responsible role in preserving our country’s independence. This is a gift from God to us and we can enjoy its privileges and need to be responsible for it. We have the promise of the Kingdom of God and therefore must walk in faith to experience its joy and be accountable Godly people.

God places His faith when He created us

The Bible teaches us that God put His faith in us when He created the universe by His word. We should therefore respond by appreciating and be thankful for his creations for us to enjoy.

God wants us to walk in faith in Him. He revealed to us the example of biblical leaders who walked in faith. Great men like Abel, Noah, Abraham and others. One way is for us to walk in simple faith by trusting God’s word.

Contrary to this is not having faith in God and by allowing assumption to take over. Instead of trusting God, we trust ourselves more and the line of authority over our life was reverse. We no longer trust God but trust in ourselves. Just like Cain who trusted in his own ways of offerings to God which was not acceptable to God.

Abraham’s child-like faith in God

When we become wise in our own eyes, often we contradict what God desires of us. God wants us to have complete faith in Him even if it challenges our natural mind. Our natural self is rebellious despite God’s sacrificial love to save us and restore us to Him. God wants us to have a child-like faith like Abraham’s.

At age 75, Abraham responded by faith to God’s calling to leave his hometown and family households and go and raise a nation of God’s chosen people. By faith, he offered Isaac, his son as a sacrifice when commanded by God to do so. Abraham set forth to Canaan, the promised land by faith, without first knowing where God was leading him. He continued to live as foreigners in the land but believing God has given this land as an inheritance. He has no prior full knowledge of God’s plan. In fact, Abraham said he was looking forward to a country that God promised: a heavenly home, a better city where God is the architect and builder.

A place where my home is.

Hebrews 1:10
For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Abraham had in mind a home that is more than an earthly place. He inherited it by faith.

The Scripture mentioned the hearts of men are restless and long to see God and to be in His presence. St Augustine pointed that men need to find rest in God. He described our hearts has an empty place, which is in the shape of God that only God can fill it.

We can busy ourselves with many activities like building relationship, achieving successes in order to experience fulfillment in our heart. But, God is the only one that can fill this emptiness by having faith in Him. Abraham was a very wealthy man but he sought after the richness of God’s presence.

The Bible described this heavenly city vividly in Revelations 21:1-4.

Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people and God himself will be with them, and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain for the old order of things has passed away.

God honored the faith of His people by preparing a city for them. In verse 16, this was recorded in the present perfect tense. It has already been done.

We should be homesick to be in that heavenly city

God has prepared that heavenly city for all His faithful servants. We should remind ourselves that we are a stranger and our home is where God is. Our homesickness and yearning is to be in God’s presence forever. Our journey to that city starts now. This city is not an imaginary place where people go after they die. It is a home in which we are as much with God in this life!

Where is my home?

The key question for us is to determine where God is and there is our home. We live as strangers and aliens here on earth but our home is where God reigns.

Prayer Response

Lord, teach us to walk the journey of faith so that we can be at home with You. Even though we live here as strangers and aliens, but in your heavenly places we are your people and citizens. In our heart You reign over us in power and in authority. Amen

Devotional based on a sermon by Rev Fred Tan

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