Exiled
"These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth." Hebrews 11:13
It is just as Jesus taught us to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." Matthew 6:10
Hebrews 12:1-2 tells us, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
Do you ever feel as though you don't belong?
The verse above reminds us that, as followers of Jesus, this earth is not our home. We are strangers and exiles here. No wonder we don't feel like we belong--we don't! And, like the Jewish people barred from their home country and taken off to Babylon in the Old Testament, we know that one day we will go home again, but to a better place--the heavenly home that God has prepared for you and for me (John 14:2-3; Hebrews 11:16).
We often fail to realize that just like the exiles in Babylon, our Heavenly Father wants us to make the most of our time here. The letter God gave Jeremiah for the Jews in Babylon is so applicable to us, here and now.
“Thus says the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, to all the exiles whom I have sent into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them; plant gardens and eat their produce. Take wives and have sons and daughters; take wives for your sons, and give your daughters in marriage, that they may bear sons and daughters; multiply there, and do not decrease. But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare." Jeremiah 29:4-7
Jeremiah 29 goes on to encourage the Jews not to listen to false prophecies, but to hold firm to the promises of God, that He will finally bring them home and fulfill all of His promises to them.
We find the same parallel message that was given to the Jews in Babylon, given to us today in Hebrews 11 and 12.
It is a wonderful encouragement to fight the good fight of faith, run the race, and endure for our Heavenly Father's homeward call. It is the rallying cry for Christians across the globe. And, we know God's every promise to be true.
May our lives be fruitful in EVERY way while we are here. What great joy to be His exile here.
Goodnight, Runners.
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