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Beyond the Horizon: Living with Abraham’s Trust
“For the Souls in Purgatory – Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”
Heb 11:8-19
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance; he went out, not knowing where he was to go. By faith he sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise; for he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. By faith even Sarah herself received ability to conceive, even though she was past the age, since she considered that the one who had made the promise was trustworthy. So it was that from one man, himself as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sands on the seashore. All these died in faith, not having received what was promised, but having seen it and greeted it from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and foreigners on earth. For those who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of the land from which they had come, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better homeland, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when put to the test, offered Isaac, and he who had received the promises was ready to offer his only son, of whom it was said, “Through Isaac descendants shall bear your name.” He reasoned that God was able to raise even from the dead, and he received Isaac back as a symbol.
Grace Prayed For
The grace for a radical, Abrahamic faith that fully trusts God’s unseen promises and provision, enabling us to live as spiritual sojourners with our eyes fixed on our heavenly homeland.
Reflection
Let your heart be stirred by the daring faith of Abraham, a man who stepped into the unknown, trusting solely in the word of God. Imagine his journey: leaving behind the familiar, dwelling in tents, always a sojourner, yet sustained by an unwavering belief in a “city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” This is not a story of human strength, but of divine faithfulness met with radical trust.
This passage invites us to a profound intimacy with our Trinitarian God, much like Abraham’s. He didn’t see the promised land as a settled home, but his gaze was fixed on a heavenly homeland, a reality crafted by the very hand of God. This same God, our Father in Heaven, loves you and provides for you, not just in the tangible blessings of today, but in the eternal promise of a future beyond our imagining.
Our mission in the world flows from this deep-seated trust. When we, like Abraham, acknowledge our identity as “strangers and foreigners” here, yet children of the King, we are freed from the anxieties of earthly security. We are empowered to live with a confident assurance in God’s provision, even when the path is unclear, just as Abraham believed God could raise Isaac from the dead. This trust allows us to take the message of the Father’s love and provision into every encounter, living lives that witness to a hope far beyond the visible, inviting others to join us in seeking that better, heavenly homeland.
Growing in Intimacy/Union with Jesus
This passage in Hebrews 11 is a powerful precursor to Jesus, who is the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises and the very “architect and builder” of the heavenly city that Abraham sought. Jesus is our true inheritance, the one through whom all of God’s promises are “Yes” and “Amen.” By meditating on this passage, we grow in intimacy with Jesus as we see Him as the ultimate expression of the Father’s provision and the one who leads us to our true homeland. He is the faithful Son who perfectly trusted the Father, even unto death, and through His resurrection, He provides the ultimate assurance of God’s power to bring life out of death and fulfill all His promises.
When Time Allows Reflect on the Posts in Library and Musings
Sharing
Jesus last words on Earth were to his disciples, can be found in Matthew Chap 28 when Jesus told his disciples, “Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.”
Jesus calls all of us to share in his redemptive mission here on Earth. I would ask you to share this Scripture reflection with your family, your friends and your acquaintances, and then share it with a couple of individuals that you may may not be comfortable sharing with, keeping in mind always the words of Jesus, And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Author was assisted by AI in the drafting of this Post