465. Thursday after Twenty-seventh Sunday after Trinity.
O Lord, that our faith
might be living,
and our longing after heaven
be fervent! Amen.
Hebrews 11, 8-16. By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: for he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. Through faith also Sara herself received strength to conceive seed, and was delivered of a child when she was past age, because she judged him faithful who had promised. Therefore sprang there even of one, and him as good as dead, so many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as the sand which is by the sea shore innumerable. These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things, declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned: but now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for he hath prepared for them a city.
❦
The faithful in the old covenant waited for the coming of Christ and for the salvation which had been promised them in him. They regarded the coming of the Savior, with atonement for sin and victory over the devil, as synonymous with the perfecting of his people and their occupation of their new home. Time has advanced, and we live in the midst of that for which they longed. Christ is come, the kingdom of heaven has been revealed, atonement for sin has been made, justification is an accomplished fact. We no longer dwell in the Canaan of the Jews, seeking God through the temple in the earthly city of Zion; we are come to “the heavenly Jerusalem, and to the innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn, . . . and to the spirits of just men made perfect, and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant.” But we are now in the midst of these things; the church is not as yet made perfect. We also walk in faith, and look for the rest eternal. Those already in heaven have no wish to return to the earth; and we also have bid the world farewell, and will not return to it. Their trust was in the word of God; and this is our reliance also. In regard to the country to which he was going Abraham knew nothing more than the Lord had told him; but at God’s word he left home and kindred, not doubting that he would receive a good country. And was he disappointed, do you think? We have not seen our heavenly heritage; but we have God’s own word for it. God, that cannot lie, has promised us eternal life. He gives us grace to hold fast this promise; and none can rob us of our inheritance. — Together with the word of God, Israel had the country as earnest of the blessed rest in heaven. We have a greater pledge; namely, the church of Christ itself, with the holy means of grace and the Spirit therein, which bears witness in our hearts. We are already at the wedding; for we are “made to sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.” Shall any man, then, be able to make us doubtful of the reality of salvation, or of our portion therein? Let not the world flatter itself, that it can again make us blind! — “Blessed the man, O Lord, who for thy sake disengages himself from everything of the world, does violence to his nature, and with fervent zeal of the spirit crucifies the lusts of the flesh; so that the soul with clear conscience brings to thee its pure offering of prayer, and becomes fit to join the angelic chorus when all earthly things, of the body and of the mind, are shut out!” Grant us this mercy, heavenly Father, for Jesus’ sake. Amen.*
Then let my soul march boldly on,
Press forward to the heavenly gate;
There peace and joy eternal reign,
And glittering robes for conquerors wait.
There shall I wear a starry crown,
And triumph in almighty grace;
While all the armies of the skies
Join in my glorious Leader’s praise.
[Church Book 460; listen here]
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.