{"id":59781,"date":"2019-02-28T10:22:40","date_gmt":"2019-02-28T07:22:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/?p=59781"},"modified":"2025-10-21T08:00:42","modified_gmt":"2025-10-21T05:00:42","slug":"those-of-us-with-a-foundation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wingulamashahidi.org\/en\/2019\/02\/28\/those-of-us-with-a-foundation\/","title":{"rendered":"Those of Us with a Foundation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

When we speak of Abraham<\/strong>, we call him the Father of Faith. Because of what kind of faith he had in his God, even though he had to wait many years for the son God had promised. Even though age had advanced for both him and his wife, and it seemed impossible\u00a0 he did not give up hope. He continued to believe and waited patiently until God fulfilled His promise. And then, in his old age, God tested him again: He asked Abraham to offer that very son as a sacrifice. Yet Abraham did not waver\u00a0 he obeyed. This courageous obedience moved God.<\/p>\n

But was that alone<\/em> enough for God to make Abraham the Father of Faith\u00a0 the example for all believers, including you and me? No. There is something deeper we must understand, which I want to speak about today.<\/p>\n

When you read the book of Hebrews, you\u2019ll see another dimension of Abraham\u2019s faith. For example:<\/p>\n

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Hebrews\u202f11:8<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cBy 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.\u201d<\/em>
Hebrews\u202f11:9\u201310<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cBy 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.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

If you look closely at those verses, you\u2019ll see that Abraham had his eyes fixed on something more<\/em> than just what God had promised him physically. And that is why, through his life, he was undisturbed by delays (like waiting for a child) or by extreme tests (like being asked to offer his son). He was living with a longer\u2011term vision.<\/p>\n

Look again at verse\u202f9: \u201cBy faith he made his home \u2026 like a stranger in a foreign land.\u201d<\/em> He didn\u2019t cling to the earthly promise as though it were his ultimate home.<\/p>\n

Remember: God had called Abraham from the land of Ur of the Chaldeans and brought him into Canaan\u00a0 the place God promised him: a land of blessing, a nation strong, descendants numerous, riches, power. Imagine: God tells you<\/em>, \u201cThrough you nations will be blessed, you will be a mighty offspring\u2026 you will possess the gates of your enemies\u2026\u201d You could feel special, privileged, maybe even entitled. You could easily live as though the promise was all about you<\/em>, your fame, your comfort.<\/p>\n

But Abraham didn\u2019t. He had a different focus. He didn\u2019t place his hope on the physical blessings alone\u00a0 \u00a0on having many children, great wealth, or a grand empire. He pondered quietly: \u201cIf God could make me a great nation, if the land is mine, then why the delay? What lies behind all this promise?\u201d He realised his life was a picture<\/em> of something yet to come\u00a0 \u00a0beyond this world. He understood that his life was a lesson, a voice of God speaking about things to come, the things behind the curtain.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why even after having the material blessings Abraham lived in the very land that was his by promise, but as someone passing through<\/em>. The Scriptures say he lived in tents with his wife Sarah, as if this land were not<\/em> his permanent home. A wealthy man, yet he didn\u2019t build palaces. What does this tell us? It shows that he lived as a pilgrim on this earth.<\/p>\n

Was he unimportant in God\u2019s eyes? Not at all. But his focus was not the temporal. He was looking ahead. He looked for \u201cthe city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God\u201d (Hebrews\u202f11:10). He didn\u2019t build it himself. He lived in the promise, but he looked beyond the promise.<\/p>\n

That city is none other than the New\u202fJerusalem<\/strong> \u2014 the heavenly city, the Bride of Christ.<\/p>\n

And it is this mindset, this vision, that made God pleased with Abraham and made him a model for everyone who is to come.<\/p>\n

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A Word for You<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Dear friend, maybe you\u2019ve been waiting for God to fulfill a promise\u00a0 \u00a0a child, a home, provision, healing. Perhaps you already have it. But are you convinced that this is all<\/em> God intends for you?<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t mistake earthly fulfilment for the fullness of God\u2019s will. Yes, God keeps His word. But unless you have the understanding Abraham had<\/strong>, you risk missing the greatest inheritance. As Jesus said:<\/p>\n

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Matthew\u202f8:11\u201312<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cI say to you that many will come from the east and the west and will take their places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven. But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

You see? Not everyone who calls themselves a believer will sit with Abraham. Not everyone will enter the heavenly city. Only those who live with that higher vision.<\/p>\n

The New\u202fJerusalem is the Bride of Christ\u00a0 \u00a0the redeemed, purified, perfected ones. Not everyone who claims the name \u201cChristian\u201d qualifies. Just as not all Israelites were true Israel, not all believers will be part of the Bride. There is a distinction between outward profession and inward transformation, between the visible fellowship and the genuine pilgrimage.<\/p>\n

Those who will inhabit the city are described this way in Scripture:<\/p>\n

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Hebrews\u202f12:14<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cMake every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.\u201d<\/em>
Isaiah\u202f35:8<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cAnd a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness; it will be for those who walk on that Way. The unclean will not journey on it; wicked fools will not go about on it.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

If you sense that something\u2019s missing in your life, there is still time. The city is being prepared, the door remains open \u2014 but not forever. Let not the treasures of this world, or the distraction of earthly gain, keep you from the greater journey.<\/p>\n

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Revelation\u202f21:1\u20134<\/strong> \u2013 \u201cThen I saw \u2018a new heaven and a new earth,\u2019 for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. \u2026 I saw the Holy City, the new\u202fJerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. \u2026 Look! God\u2019s dwelling place is now among the people. \u2026 He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The foundations of that city are not built on wealth, fame, or earthly success. They are built on apostles and prophets \u2014 God\u2019s Word. The materials reflect holiness, calling, purity. Precious stones. Pure gold. Light from God. Nothing unclean will enter.<\/p>\n

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My Invitation to You<\/strong><\/h3>\n

So, I ask you: Are you<\/em> part of that Holy City? Is your life aligned with the Bride of Christ? If He returned today, are you<\/em> completely ready to go with Him? Are you living with a heavenly perspective<\/strong>, or just earthly comfort?<\/p>\n

Have you been washed, born anew, baptized (fully immersed) in the Name of Jesus Christ? And if you have \u2014 does your life<\/em> reflect holiness? Because Scripture warns:<\/p>\n

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Without holiness no one will see the Lord.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

If you find that something is lacking \u2014 this is your moment. While there is time \u2014 while the door of grace remains open \u2014 pursue the higher calling. Let your waiting not be for the land only, but for the city whose builder and maker is God Himself.<\/p>\n

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Isaiah\u202f35:8<\/strong> (again) \u2014 \u201cAnd a highway will be there; it will be called the Way of Holiness\u2026\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

My prayer for you: That you will repent today, that you will be washed clean, clothed in Christ, and empowered to live in holiness and purity.<\/p>\n

May you be richly blessed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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