Spurling Silver: Strangers & Pilgrims in Faith, Hebrews 11:13-16

The Hall of Faith is teed up at the end of chapter 10 by saying:

You have need of endurance so that after you've done the will of God you may receive the promise. For yet a little while and He who is coming will come and will not tarry.

Now, the just shall live by faith; but if anyone draw back My soul will have no pleasure in him. (Heb. 10:36-38).

Then, the first thing we see in Hebrews 11 is a powerful pillar:

“Faith is the substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Then a second powerful pillar appears in Hebrews 11:6: “Without faith it's impossible to please Him.”

In between we read amazing feats of faith.

By faith the elders obtained a good testimony. (Hebrews 11:2)

By faith we understand the worlds were framed by the Word of God (Heb. 11:3).

By faith Abel offered a more excellent sacrifice (Heb. 11:4).

By faith Enoch did not see death, for he had this testimony, that he please God (Heb. 11:5).

By faith Noah being Divinely warned, prepared an ark for the saving of his household (Heb. 11:7).

By faith Abraham went out and dwelt in the land of Promise with Isaac and Jacob, seeking a city whose Builder and Maker is God (Heb. 11:8-10).

By faith Sarah received strength and conceived life judging Him faithful who had promised. (Heb. 11:11-12).

On and on the Hall of Faith names heroes of faith by name.

Then, it closes in a climax of courage with the spotlight on unnamed faith heroes.

"Who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.

Others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection.

Still others had trial of mockings and scourgings, yes, and of chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, were tempted, were slain with the sword. They wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented— of whom the world was not worthy. They wandered in deserts and mountains, in dens and caves of the earth.

And all these, having obtained a good testimony through faith, did not receive the promise.

God having provided something better for us, that they should not be made perfect apart from us." Hebrews 11:33-40.

Tucked quietly in the midst of these powerful pillars and courageous feats of faith is a diamond in the rough.

With just a few verses the Lord graciously allows us to see as He sees, into the thoughts and intents of the hearts of these faith heroes.

And then, even better, He reveals His response.

That diamond in the rough is what we have the honor of examining today.

Hebrews 11:13-16
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced (greeted) them and confessed (admitted, acknowledged) that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.

An outline of our text, and/or, a profile of the Hall of Faithers, may look like this:

1.    Endurance. Died in faith (13a)
2.    Selfless. Not having received the promises (13b)
3.    Patient. Saw and greeted them afar off (13c)
4.    Perspective. Understood they were strangers and pilgrims (13d)
5.    Committed. Seek a Homeland (14-15)
6.    Covenant. Desire a better, heavenly...(16a)
7.    Unashamed. The glorious response of our Lord. (16b)

1. Endurance

These all died in faith.

Well, all but Enoch and Elijah. They walked with God, until one day they were taken, raptured, caught up, they did not die. Enoch, simply “was not” for God took him. Genesis 5:24.

Elijah was caught up in a chariot of fire. 2 Kings 2:11.

They didn’t need to find faith at the last minute. No death bed repentance needed.

These Hall of Faith Saints lived by faith and died in faith.

They endured to the end.

They crossed the finish line in faith.

This is important because how we finish matters.

All the good we’ve done before will be forgotten if we turn from Him to sin. 2 Peter 2:20-21, Ez. 3:20, 18:24, 33:12-20.

They lived with their eyes on the Prize, the Promise, their bags packed, ready to go at any moment.

Do you?

Do your loved ones?

Do those God’s given you?

Have you asked them?

If they say, “Maybe someday, not today.”

Give them warning: To not live by faith, but to live by flesh may make it impossible to die in faith. And without faith, it’s impossible to please Him. Hebrews 11:6.

Saving faith takes more than lip service for fire insurance, it takes repentance of the heart. Matthew 3:2, 4:17, Mark 1:15.

It’s rare and hard for a person to change their mind and heart at the flip of a switch. Saying, “sorry” just because you’re in trouble, doesn’t count.

So, to be safe, be like the just, and just live by faith. Then, dying in faith will take care of itself.

They endured and died in faith.

2. Selfless.

Not having received the promises

What promises?

Well, a few verses back Heb. 11:9, says, ^“By faith he (Abraham) dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise.”

Specifically referring to God’s promise to Abraham beginning in Genesis 12:1-3, that He would make him a great nation with an abundance of prosperity and property, and people and that through him all nations of the earth would be blessed. Of course, that was referring to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Additionally, there was the first promise that pointed to the Seed of the woman that would crush the serpent’s head. Genesis 3:15. Of course, that too, was referring to the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ.

Now, since the Promised Messiah has come, He has given us even more promises.

2 Corinthians 1:20. For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.

2 Peter 1:2-4. Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, ³as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, ⁴by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

Speaking of partaking of His Divine Nature, Jesus promises His Holy Spirit filled with exceedingly great and precious fruits and gifts. (Luke 24:49, Acts 1:4).

According to Jesus His Holy Spirit is our, Helper, Teacher, Guide, and Spirit of Truth; He abides with us, reminds us, testifies through us, and tells us of things to come. John 14:15-16, 15:26, 16:13.

And that, is just a small introduction.

He has a whole basket full of fruit, just waiting for you to taste and see that the Lord is Good.

The Holy Spirit is not only a fruit maker, but a gift giver:

All those are characteristics of folks filled with the Holy Spirit.

Do they describe you?

The Saints in the Hall of Faith, received not the promises, yet they selflessly endured looking not to themselves, but forward to the Promise.

3. Patient.

They did not receive the promises, but having seen them afar off, embraced them

The faith heroes needed patience to embrace God’s promises when He revealed that His plan was a multigenerational marathon.

Through faith and patience they greeted, welcomed, embraced God’s big picture, even though it would be fulfilled after their life on this earth.

James 1:2-4. “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

Like the shot of energy produced in a marathon runner who presses through the pain of “the wall” by looking to the joy of the afar off finish line, so too, are you, when you press through the testing of your faith, by looking to Jesus.

Faith heroes know, tests of faith produce patience muscles needed to finish the race strong.

4. Perspective

They confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.

They knew they were just passing through.

Having that Eternal Perspective makes all the difference in the world.

Faith heroes know they are just pilgrims in search of a city whose Builder and Maker is God.

This earth is not our home.

5. Committed

For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. 15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.

Faith heroes are not double-minded, not looking back like Lot’s wife, not calling to mind their old lifestyle, but seeking a Heavenly Homeland.

Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:5.

Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Luke 6:45.

Faith heroes are committed to keeping their words and thoughts set on their Homeland.

6. Covenant

But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.

Endurance, selflessness, patience, eternal perspective, commitment, leads to covenant.

Psalm 37:4. Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

Their heart’s desire is heavenly.

That comes from being in covenant with the Lord.

Being in covenant with God, releases the world’s gravitational pull.

When you have the Best, the world has nothing to offer.

7. Unashamed

Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city.

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. ²In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. ³And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. John 14:1-3.

“Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.” 2 Cor. 6:17-18.

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, we know Your Word is True that says, “For yet a little while, He who is coming will come and will not tarry.”

Help us obey Your Word that says, “Now the just shall live by faith.”

And please keep us in remembrance that You also said, “But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.”

We pray that we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.

Now Lord, will You make us to be soul winners and disciple makers, so we, and all those You’ve given us, will indeed be, Your sons and daughters.

Thank You.

We love You, forever.

Amen.

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