Hebrews 6:13-15

Hebrews 6:13-15 When God made his promise to Abraham, since there was no one greater for him to swear by, he swore by himself, saying, “I will surely bless you and give you many descendants.” And so after waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.

Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Luke 13:28-29 “There will be weeping there, and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God, but you yourselves thrown out. People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.

Have you received your promise from God? Do you know what He has promised? Is it land, a city, descendants? Sometimes Christians do not know what God has promised. God promised Abraham that his seed would bless many nations; consequently, he is called a father of many nations. Of course, his seed has blessed many nations, for out of his loins came Jesus Christ, the Messiah, the Son of God. God also promised Abraham a land where he and his descendants could dwell in peace. Today, we know this land as Israel, and Jerusalem means the city of peace. But was that land where he lived in tents his land of promise? Would that land fulfill his dreams, make him happy? No! Abraham did not look for a dwelling place made by human hands, he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. His primary destination was not a better life made by men; he looked for the Promised Land, the presence of God. How many of us look for a better land here and now where we can set up our tents and live a life of peace and success? Do we evaluate the worth of our lives by how many positive experiences we have had, or by how much we have accumulated, or by our children's success? Is the promise for pastors a bigger church and a better life for their congregants? What are the promises of God to you and to me?

In Acts 2, Peter says, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. THE PROMISE is for you and your children and for all who are far off — for all whom the Lord our God will call.” God clearly promised the Spirit would come to abide in us to be our comforter and guide and to reveal the kingdom of God within us. The kingdom of God does not come with your careful observation, nor will people say, "Here it is," or "There it is," because the kingdom of God is within you. (Luke 17:20-21) Although God blesses us with many spiritual gifts and we prosper in many ways as we serve him, God's kingdom is not about a better experience here on Earth. It is not a specific place for us to seek on Earth. The kingdom comes to us through the indwelling Holy Spirit who brings us into the land of righteousness, peace, and joy. (Romans 14:17) It is not about eating and drinking or earthly things. Sometimes Christians, even pastors, become confused, believing the promise is about having a more successful life, a prosperous place in this alien land. However, we are sojourners through this land, known as aliens. Although we might become wealthy as the sojourner Abraham did, we might also experience poverty and trials as did Paul and all the disciples. We might become successful and independent, as with Abraham, or we might endure persecution that demands total dependence upon God. Regardless of life's circumstances, we possess the promise of God because through Christ's death and the infilling of the Holy Spirit, the kingdom of heaven resides in every believer. "I have chosen you," says the Lord.

With this knowledge of the promise, even the most successful and wealthy Christian still remains a sojourner. This world is not our home and will not satisfy our longing for God. For us, life is somewhere else, not here. A Christian may be readied for martyrdom, yet even knowing life will end soon, a Christian rejoices for the promise in his heart that God will soon fulfill. The person who dies in Christ will be with God; this is our precious hope, our reason for living. We live to reach that city with foundations, to dwell with God. God gave us the Holy Spirit as an earnest, a down payment on what is to come. The Spirit shows us what heaven is all about and prepares us for service and for our heavenly home by giving us the attributes of God. As He reveals real joy and happiness to us, we realize we are CHOSEN PEOPLE, blessed with all goodness and the peace and rest of God, here and forever. AS CHILDREN OF THE MOST HIGH, our inheritance is God himself. The Levitical priests did not receive land in this life, for God was their inheritance. God did not give us, his beloved children, a land, for He is our inheritance, our abiding place forevermore. Rejoice in his Promise today dear children. Amen.