What does "seeking a country of their own" mean for Christians now? Setting the Scene in Hebrews 11 • Hebrews 11 catalogs men and women who took God at His word and lived by faith. • Verse 14 ties to verses 13-16, where the patriarchs confessed they were “strangers and exiles on the earth.” They looked past Canaan’s borders to something bigger. • Hebrews 11:14: “For those who say such things show that they are seeking a country of their own.” What “Seeking a Country of Their Own” Meant Then • “Country” (Greek: patrida) speaks of a homeland—something real, not imaginary. • Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob physically dwelt in tents, yet their hearts were anchored in a promised, perfected land God would unveil. • Their longing was not nostalgia for Ur or Haran; they desired “a better country—a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16). How That Phrase Shapes Christian Hope Now • Scripture grounds believers’ identity in heaven: – Philippians 3:20: “But our citizenship is in heaven…” – Ephesians 2:19: “You are… fellow citizens with the saints and members of God’s household.” • Jesus personally prepares that homeland: John 14:2-3. • Revelation 21:2, reveals its unveiling as the new Jerusalem. • Therefore, Hebrews 11:14 becomes a template—Christians live on earth while actively anticipating a literal, future dwelling with the Lord. Living as Pilgrims in a Passing World • Hold possessions loosely; tents, not castles, suited the patriarchs (Hebrews 11:9). • Resist entanglement with sinful passions that war against the soul (1 Peter 2:11). • Endure hardship with eyes fixed on eternal reward (2 Corinthians 4:18). • Engage culture as ambassadors, representing the coming King (2 Corinthians 5:20). Fixing Our Eyes on the Promised City • A “city” (Hebrews 11:16) underscores permanence, order, and community. • God “is not ashamed to be called their God” because their hope rests fully on Him, not on present comforts. • The promise is concrete: resurrection bodies (Philippians 3:21), a renewed cosmos (Romans 8:21), and unbroken fellowship with God (Revelation 21:3). Practical Takeaways for Everyday Faithfulness • Start the day affirming heavenly citizenship; it resets priorities. • Let future hope fuel present obedience—faith acts now because it trusts tomorrow. • Invest time, talent, and resources in what outlasts this age: gospel proclamation, discipleship, acts of love (Matthew 6:19-20). • Encourage one another with the certainty of the coming homeland, especially during trials (1 Thessalonians 4:18). Seeking “a country of their own” ultimately means anchoring life in the sure, literal promise of God’s eternal city and living today as people who already belong there. |
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