Hebrews 11:1-31-- Longing for a Better Country

Scripture: Hebrews 11:1-31

Hebrews 11. The "Hall of Faith". Seriously, there are probably statues of these people in heaven.

But for all the times you've read this beloved chapter, have you ever wondered why it's there?


Seriously, what's the point of Hebrews 11?

I won't pretend to give you an exclusively correct answer to that. But I think looking to the end of chapter 10 will help us. There the author is encouraging the readers to persevere through suffering, and concludes with:

"But we do not belong to those who shrink back and are destroyed, but to those who have faith and are saved."

Chapter 11, then, gives us beautiful pictures of what that kind of faith looks like-- faith that doesn't shrink back; faith that saves.

But notice this: the chapter doesn't just paint pictures of heroes and say, "Do this." In many cases, we're told why the people acted in faith. We're told how they withstood the suffering.

Take a look at where these heroes' eyes were fixed:

Abraham: For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God (v. 10)
Sarah: Because she considered Him faithful who had promised (v. 11)
Moses: Because he was looking ahead to his reward (v. 26)

All the heroes: They were longing for a better country--a heavenly one (v. 16)

What will enable us to persevere in faith when hardships come? To be saved rather than to shrink back to destruction? 

Keeping our eyes on the promise, and the faithfulness of Him who has promised.