Confidently Looking Forward

             It is expedient in our days to learn how to constantly draw encouragement from the word of God by looking at the life of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who is a perfect example of One Who ran His race confidently till the end. Other examples in Scriptures are the patriarchs, both named and unnamed, whose strengths and weaknesses are clearly written to help us navigate our way, in our time. Indeed we live in a time when instant gratification, earthly pleasures and vain glory in one’s accomplishments and material possessions are the order of the day. But when we study the lives of these men we see a different perspective to life. Though they had to pass through many struggles, trials, wars, deprivation and many conflicting ideas from unbelievers in their time, yet they held on confidently to their faith in God and to the things that He had revealed to them. Those of them, who were mightily blessed and famous, did not allow temporary things to erode their expectation of a better place. We all are called to learn from them: “For whatever was written before was written for our instruction, so that through our endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we may have hope” (Romans 15:4). Though they stumbled severally, they got back up and maintained their focus on what was before them. Friend, no matter what you are going through, you must keep looking forward.

Concerning Abraham we read in Hebrews 11:9-10 “And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith- for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God”.  Indeed we live in a time of great advancement in science, technology, architecture, medicine, art, and on a daily basis we are bombarded through the media with all the good things that money can buy. Yet none of the beauty or glory, or ingenuity of this age or successive ages to come, if Christ tarries, can be compared to what the Lord has prepared for those who love Him. It is for the sake of those who have such a mindset Jesus Christ went to prepare for (John 14:2-4). Verses 13-15 goes on to say “all these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it. They agreed that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them”. It is time for us to equally see the glories that lie ahead of us, embrace their reality and declare it to those around us. The penetrating eyes of the Lord are going to and fro the earth, searching deep into every heart and asking: ‘are you looking forward to all I am preparing, or are you simply looking around you?’ The grace to refocus your attention on Him is released to you in Jesus Christ name. God bless you.