THE NEW JERUSALEM #5
Pastor Christopher Choo
Lesson 3260
THE NEW JERUSALEM #5
True, god-fearing faith is defined as trust, relying on God when looking to the future, and obeying even when we do not fully understand all the details.
The great figures of the Old Testament, such as Abraham, Moses, and David, all lived according to this type of faith. Ultimately, that means trusting God's intent to make good on His promises from God's eternal perspective.
In particular, Abraham was looking beyond his makeshift and temporary tent. This was recorded by the author of Hebrews in Hebrews 11:10 -
"For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God".
Abraham—and by extension, his children—looked forward beyond even their own lives. The reference here to "the city that has foundations" might be an echo of the visions seen by prophets of the Old Testament (Ezekiel 40—48; Isaiah 60—66), and given more detail in the book of Revelation (Revelation 21:9–14).
The city is the New Jerusalem, a feature of God's eventual conquest over all sin and death (Revelation 21:2–4).
Their faith explicitly led them to believe that God's ultimate purpose for them was not earthly, but heavenly.
Abba Father, enable our faith to become a wholehearted trust in You so that we will be able to visualise Heaven as Your Person, Presence, and Glory instead of a mere place for the blessed in Christ.
