He Has Put Eternity In Their Hearts

February 11

"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;
for he waited for the city which has foundations,
whose builder and maker is God."
Hebrews 11:9-10

This is taken from the Bible's "faith chapter," the "hall of fame" where the great men of faith are spoken of. It says of them that they, "out of weakness were made strong." This is what faith is. We who are weak believe in him who can take us above our weaknesses to accomplish things that are beyond our natural strength.

What motivates people like that?

"...He has put eternity in their hearts..."
Ecclesiastes 3:11

Abraham dwelt in the promised land "as in a foreign country," knowing that his faith would eventually take him to that eternal city. And so, believers understand and confess that we are only passing through - on our way to a far greater place, the place which the God of all creation has prepared for us in heaven.

They "...confessed that they were
strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
Hebrews 11:13

The world says of believers that "they're so heavenly minded that they're of no earthly good." The truth is just the opposite. Those who are heavenly minded are people filled with compassion for fallen mankind and these are they who do all they can for them. They are God's hands and feet on this earth, carrying out his compassion for all. Of all men, they are the most earthly good.

Walking by faith is the most rewarding adventure man can have, because he does not walk alone in his weaknesses; no, God himself leads and guides him throughout his life doing things that could never have been achieved through human weakness.

And then ...there's heaven!