WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.179 After 11 verses 8 through 16, if you're looking in one of the pew Bibles, that is on page 1007. 00:00:18.940 --> 00:00:22.740 Hebrews 11, starting at verse 8. 00:00:22.739 --> 00:00:34.179 By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. 00:00:35.099 --> 00:00:38.519 And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 00:00:39.719 --> 00:00:51.859 By faith, he went to live in the land of promise as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 00:00:51.859 --> 00:00:58.700 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 00:00:59.579 --> 00:01:08.180 By faith, Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age since she considered him faithful who had promised. 00:01:09.200 --> 00:01:19.500 Therefore, from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore. 00:01:19.500 --> 00:01:33.540 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. 00:01:34.480 --> 00:01:38.939 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 00:01:39.939 --> 00:01:45.599 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 00:01:45.599 --> 00:01:52.159 But as it is, they desire a better country that is a heavenly one. 00:01:53.059 --> 00:01:59.619 Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. 00:02:00.780 --> 00:02:01.799 Would you pray with me? 00:02:01.799 --> 00:02:11.659 Lord Jesus, you said to your disciples, peace I give to you, my own peace I leave with you. 00:02:12.659 --> 00:02:18.079 Look not upon our sins, but upon the faith of your church that you have given us. 00:02:18.659 --> 00:02:27.740 And give to us the peace and unity of that heavenly city, where with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign now and forever. 00:02:28.379 --> 00:02:28.659 Amen. 00:02:28.659 --> 00:02:36.020 Well, this morning's passage is about living in this present world as foreigners. 00:02:37.039 --> 00:02:44.460 So this week I decided to do a little survey of some of you who are literally foreigners, who were born and raised in other countries, 00:02:44.919 --> 00:02:52.579 but now live here in the United States, to help us begin to grasp the concept and the experience of living as a foreigner. 00:02:53.340 --> 00:02:58.139 And with your permission, I will share some of the questions and answers. 00:02:58.139 --> 00:03:03.019 So first I asked, what was most challenging to you when you first left your home country? 00:03:03.979 --> 00:03:05.199 Here are some of the answers. 00:03:06.459 --> 00:03:11.779 The stressful uncertainty of my future life here compared to all that I left behind. 00:03:12.679 --> 00:03:17.979 Family, friends, job, land, house in my home country. 00:03:19.139 --> 00:03:20.079 The language. 00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:24.860 We had all learned English in school, but English here sounded so very different. 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:30.340 Everyone spoke in fast-forward mode, and nobody spoke the same way as anyone else. 00:03:32.680 --> 00:03:40.840 The perception that we were aliens, by the U.S. government definition, who may be subjected to vigorous checks to ensure that we are not a threat. 00:03:41.340 --> 00:03:42.700 The feeling that we are not welcome. 00:03:42.699 --> 00:03:44.799 Feeling alone. 00:03:45.839 --> 00:03:48.839 Not having anyone near you who really cares about you. 00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:54.139 Finally, understanding culturally appropriate behavior and conversation. 00:03:54.899 --> 00:03:58.659 I became overly self-conscious for the fear of offending anyone. 00:03:59.780 --> 00:04:04.819 The second question I asked was, what has been hard about remaining here in the U.S. as a foreigner? 00:04:04.819 --> 00:04:09.340 Feeling torn between life here and life back home. 00:04:10.039 --> 00:04:14.139 Knowing that I need to stay here in order to provide for people back home. 00:04:15.519 --> 00:04:20.899 Learning about all the differing written and at least as many unwritten laws of society. 00:04:22.319 --> 00:04:27.379 Dealing with people who are unfriendly to people who have a certain skin color or who speak with an accent. 00:04:28.659 --> 00:04:33.779 It took some time for us to find the right church and to feel that we are really part of the family. 00:04:33.779 --> 00:04:40.119 Living as a foreigner can be confusing, difficult, tiring. 00:04:40.859 --> 00:04:46.319 But it can also be an extraordinarily valuable experience that God uses. 00:04:47.479 --> 00:04:56.259 Consider just for a minute how many books in the Bible were written by or about people who were living as foreigners. 00:04:56.759 --> 00:04:58.239 Far from their homeland. 00:04:59.079 --> 00:04:59.579 Just a few. 00:04:59.579 --> 00:05:04.560 The book of Numbers describes Israel's 40-year-long journey through the desert. 00:05:06.180 --> 00:05:12.759 The book of Ruth is about a Moabite widow who immigrates with her mother-in-law to Israel. 00:05:14.120 --> 00:05:17.599 Jeremiah wrote to the Israelites who were exiled to Babylon. 00:05:18.299 --> 00:05:21.479 Ezekiel and Daniel wrote from Babylon as exiles. 00:05:21.939 --> 00:05:26.899 1 and 2 Kings was compiled to address the question, why did the exile happen in the first place? 00:05:26.899 --> 00:05:30.799 Esther shows God's provision for the Jewish foreigners in Persia. 00:05:31.679 --> 00:05:33.139 And so on and so forth. 00:05:33.219 --> 00:05:36.560 In the New Testament, several of Paul's letters were written from prison. 00:05:37.039 --> 00:05:38.799 Peter was written to exiled Christians. 00:05:39.359 --> 00:05:44.179 And Revelation was written by John when he was literally in exile on the island of Patmos. 00:05:44.819 --> 00:05:52.000 God has chosen to carry out much of his plan for the world through people living in foreign lands. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:57.959 But the main point of this passage is not that everybody should go travel the world. 00:05:58.759 --> 00:06:03.000 But that faith means choosing to live wherever we are. 00:06:03.420 --> 00:06:07.120 Whether it's in your home country where you were born or in another country. 00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:10.560 Choosing to live in this present world as a foreigner. 00:06:11.439 --> 00:06:16.180 Because we look forward to a future heavenly homeland. 00:06:16.180 --> 00:06:24.060 And in this passage, the author points us to the example of Abraham as someone who did just that. 00:06:24.840 --> 00:06:27.860 And he shows us three aspects of Abraham's faith. 00:06:28.579 --> 00:06:31.420 One from the beginning of Abraham's life with God. 00:06:31.920 --> 00:06:32.780 One from the middle. 00:06:33.259 --> 00:06:34.220 And one from the end. 00:06:34.780 --> 00:06:39.620 So we'll look at these three pictures of faith from the life of Abraham in turn. 00:06:40.259 --> 00:06:43.139 As we see what it means to live in this world as a foreigner. 00:06:43.139 --> 00:06:52.099 So first, verse 8 and 9 show us that faith means obeying God's call into an uncertain future. 00:06:53.399 --> 00:06:58.879 By faith, Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:03.259 And he went out not knowing where he was going. 00:07:03.860 --> 00:07:08.779 This was the beginning of Abraham's journey of living by faith in God. 00:07:09.439 --> 00:07:12.379 God's call to Abraham in Genesis 12 came out of the blue. 00:07:13.139 --> 00:07:14.199 With no apparent warning. 00:07:15.360 --> 00:07:20.599 God said to him, leave your country, your people, and your father's household. 00:07:21.419 --> 00:07:25.579 Until God called him, Abraham's life was defined by those very things. 00:07:25.659 --> 00:07:28.199 His family, his tribe, his homeland. 00:07:29.579 --> 00:07:34.860 And those were the major sources of identity and security in the ancient world. 00:07:34.860 --> 00:07:38.480 But God called him to leave those things behind. 00:07:39.819 --> 00:07:44.879 And God didn't give Abraham a detailed itinerary for the rest of his life. 00:07:45.560 --> 00:07:49.220 God simply said, go to the land that I will show you. 00:07:50.280 --> 00:07:54.480 It seems that God didn't even tell him exactly where he was going until he got there. 00:07:54.480 --> 00:08:02.860 When he finally got to Canaan, in Genesis 12, verse 7, God tells him, to your offspring I will give this land. 00:08:04.220 --> 00:08:06.759 Now at that time, Abraham wasn't alone. 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:16.000 He was caring for his wife Sarah, his aging father, and his nephew Lot, as well as a whole bunch of associated household servants. 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:19.920 And he took everyone and everything that belonged to him. 00:08:20.279 --> 00:08:25.600 He didn't leave anything behind, sort of just in case he decided to return one day. 00:08:25.680 --> 00:08:27.800 He took everything and everyone that belonged to him. 00:08:28.040 --> 00:08:30.600 And he went in obedience to the call of God. 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:34.460 And the author of Hebrews says, that is faith. 00:08:35.120 --> 00:08:39.100 Following God's call into an uncertain future. 00:08:39.100 --> 00:08:42.899 Now what might this look like for us? 00:08:44.019 --> 00:08:51.580 Well, it does not mean that uncertainty about future plans is always, by definition, a good thing. 00:08:52.540 --> 00:09:01.320 It's not saying that we shouldn't bother to plan for the future, but just live moment by moment and trust that everything will work itself out somehow. 00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:09.019 Sometimes that can be simply a form of laziness, or wishful thinking, or avoiding reality. 00:09:09.100 --> 00:09:13.399 But faith in God is not avoiding reality. 00:09:13.800 --> 00:09:16.060 Faith in God means facing reality. 00:09:17.220 --> 00:09:24.200 And part of the reality is that we are finite creatures who are not ultimately in control of our future. 00:09:24.920 --> 00:09:32.960 However responsibly we plan and prepare, God does call us to be responsible managers of what he gives us. 00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:35.160 He does call us to save money. 00:09:35.159 --> 00:09:43.199 A proverb points us to the ants who gather little pieces of food and bring them to their storehouse. 00:09:43.779 --> 00:09:45.679 Like the squirrels store up for the winter. 00:09:46.319 --> 00:09:49.620 God does call us to seek out wise counsel when we make our plans. 00:09:49.719 --> 00:09:56.699 But he also tells us to say, if it is the Lord's will, we will do this or do that. 00:09:56.700 --> 00:10:03.379 I remember myself wrestling with this reality during my senior year in college. 00:10:03.820 --> 00:10:05.660 I was looking for a job all year. 00:10:06.160 --> 00:10:07.680 I sent out many applications. 00:10:08.160 --> 00:10:09.680 I received no job offers. 00:10:10.600 --> 00:10:15.320 It was one of the first times in my life when I didn't really know what was coming next. 00:10:15.320 --> 00:10:25.420 And I found great comfort that year in reading about Abraham, who had walked with God into a future that was far more uncertain than mine. 00:10:26.700 --> 00:10:32.800 And Jesus' words, seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and everything else will be added to you as well, 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:42.740 reminded me to focus on pleasing God in the present rather than spending my best energy worrying about what I could not control about the future. 00:10:42.740 --> 00:10:49.759 So faith means facing the inevitable uncertainties of life and entrusting them to God. 00:10:50.560 --> 00:10:51.960 But it's also more than that. 00:10:52.039 --> 00:10:56.680 For Abraham, faith did not simply mean facing the inevitable uncertainties of life, 00:10:56.820 --> 00:11:02.940 but it also meant embracing particular uncertainties that resulted from obeying God's word. 00:11:03.940 --> 00:11:08.659 Now, God does not call every one of us to literally leave our family and our homeland. 00:11:08.659 --> 00:11:16.339 But many times, God orchestrates the circumstances of our lives so that in order to obey his word, 00:11:16.679 --> 00:11:23.219 we must let go of something before we know exactly how the future will work out. 00:11:24.299 --> 00:11:30.559 For some of you, this has meant, or this might mean, going to your supervisor at work 00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:35.119 and raising a concern or even saying, 00:11:35.439 --> 00:11:39.979 I can't participate in something that I am convinced is unethical. 00:11:40.539 --> 00:11:45.439 Even if it's an awkward conversation, even if you're the only person on your team with such a concern, 00:11:45.979 --> 00:11:49.059 even if it jeopardizes your chances of being promoted. 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:56.339 For some of you, this has meant choosing to walk away from a dating relationship 00:11:56.340 --> 00:11:59.160 that compromises your loyalty to Jesus. 00:11:59.720 --> 00:12:03.560 When you don't see any alternative marriage prospects on the horizon, 00:12:05.639 --> 00:12:10.220 trusting that it's better to walk closely with Jesus and be single 00:12:10.220 --> 00:12:14.340 than to pursue marriage or stay in a long-term dating relationship 00:12:14.340 --> 00:12:17.060 and drift apart from Jesus. 00:12:17.059 --> 00:12:23.079 Now we can face the inevitable uncertainties of life and we can even embrace 00:12:23.079 --> 00:12:28.059 the particular uncertainties that might flow from obedience to Christ 00:12:28.059 --> 00:12:33.619 because in Christ, we have something more certain than anything else in this world. 00:12:34.779 --> 00:12:38.419 The reason Abraham could follow God's call into an uncertain future 00:12:38.419 --> 00:12:44.479 was because God's call came with a certain promise of great blessing. 00:12:44.480 --> 00:12:50.620 And the Apostle Paul says God's promise is guaranteed to all Abraham's offspring, 00:12:51.320 --> 00:12:57.060 not only to Abraham's physical descendants, but also to those who are of the faith of Abraham. 00:12:58.080 --> 00:12:59.620 Now what exactly does God promise? 00:12:59.720 --> 00:13:03.240 Well, God promised that Abraham's family would become a great people. 00:13:04.180 --> 00:13:08.700 And when you become a Christian, you become part of this great family of God. 00:13:09.659 --> 00:13:11.259 You have a father in heaven. 00:13:12.000 --> 00:13:13.800 You have brothers and sisters in the church. 00:13:14.480 --> 00:13:15.240 You are not alone. 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:19.720 God promised to provide a land for Abraham's descendants 00:13:19.720 --> 00:13:23.639 and God promises us an eternal home, as verse 10 says, 00:13:24.279 --> 00:13:28.840 in the city with foundations, whose designer and builder is God. 00:13:29.759 --> 00:13:32.060 God promised to protect Abraham from his enemies. 00:13:32.259 --> 00:13:33.920 He said, whoever blesses you, I will bless. 00:13:34.360 --> 00:13:35.899 Whoever curses you, I will curse. 00:13:36.980 --> 00:13:39.399 And Jesus promised his disciples, I will never leave you. 00:13:39.399 --> 00:13:41.399 I will never forsake you. 00:13:42.679 --> 00:13:47.480 God promised that Abraham's descendants would convey his blessing to all the families of the earth. 00:13:47.559 --> 00:13:54.679 And in Jesus Christ, we are now recipients and channels of that very blessing that God has promised. 00:13:54.679 --> 00:14:04.620 So we can follow God's call into an uncertain future because God has promised us his sure and certain blessings in Jesus Christ. 00:14:05.419 --> 00:14:06.519 So that's the first thing. 00:14:07.339 --> 00:14:10.120 Faith means obeying God's call into an uncertain future. 00:14:10.120 --> 00:14:18.639 The second thing we see in verse 11 and 12 is that faith means considering God faithful in the midst of impossible situations. 00:14:19.379 --> 00:14:24.139 This was the main challenge that Abraham and Sarah faced in the middle of their life. 00:14:24.659 --> 00:14:30.139 To consider God faithful even when they did not see the fulfillment of his promises. 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:37.220 Abraham was 75 years old or around there when God first promised that he would have many descendants. 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:41.460 But for the next 25 years, nothing seemed to happen. 00:14:42.220 --> 00:14:45.879 They just got older and older and kept celebrating birthdays. 00:14:46.620 --> 00:14:51.040 And their birthdays weren't so exciting to celebrate anymore as they got older. 00:14:51.980 --> 00:14:53.160 And Sarah didn't get pregnant. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:59.639 But verse 11 says, by faith, Sarah received power to conceive. 00:15:00.460 --> 00:15:04.440 Even when she was past the age since she considered him faithful who had promised. 00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:09.240 Now there is some uncertainty as to how we should translate this verse. 00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:16.960 If you have an NIV, the old NIV, or if you have an NRSV, verse 11 is translated with Abraham as the subject. 00:15:17.540 --> 00:15:23.000 Something like, by faith, Abraham, even though he was past the age and Sarah was barren, was enabled to become a father. 00:15:23.880 --> 00:15:26.280 There are reasonable arguments for either translation. 00:15:26.640 --> 00:15:28.500 I'd be happy to go into the details afterwards. 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:32.360 But in this case, it actually matters very little which translation is correct. 00:15:32.980 --> 00:15:38.759 Because both Abraham and Sarah were facing the exact same impossible situation together. 00:15:39.620 --> 00:15:42.179 Both of them were completely infertile. 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:45.139 Totally unable to generate life. 00:15:45.259 --> 00:15:47.379 Verse 11 says, Sarah was past the age. 00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:50.200 Verse 12 says, Abraham was as good as dead. 00:15:50.200 --> 00:15:59.180 And yet, it says they considered God faithful who had promised them a son. 00:16:00.060 --> 00:16:04.960 Even though the promise was given 25 years ago and hadn't yet been fulfilled. 00:16:06.100 --> 00:16:11.020 Now you might also ask, well did Abraham and Sarah really consider God faithful? 00:16:11.820 --> 00:16:19.420 I mean if you read Genesis, when God told Abraham in Genesis 17 that he would have another son at the age of 100. 00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:22.699 Abraham fell down on his face and laughed. 00:16:23.860 --> 00:16:29.120 And in the next chapter, when Sarah, who was 90, heard the same news, she laughed too. 00:16:30.500 --> 00:16:32.919 And God said to Sarah, why did you laugh? 00:16:33.459 --> 00:16:35.559 And she said, oh no, I didn't laugh. 00:16:35.959 --> 00:16:37.279 And God said, oh yes you did. 00:16:38.120 --> 00:16:39.079 I heard you. 00:16:41.639 --> 00:16:43.659 So did they really have faith, you might wonder? 00:16:43.659 --> 00:16:54.179 Well the point of this is, neither Abraham nor Sarah were perfect examples of complete trust in God at every moment of their lives. 00:16:55.219 --> 00:16:59.740 Earlier on, Genesis 16, Sarah got fed up with waiting. 00:17:00.459 --> 00:17:02.399 And she told Abraham, go use a surrogate. 00:17:03.439 --> 00:17:04.359 Go sleep with Hagar. 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:10.180 And out of fear and frustration and desperation, Abraham did just that. 00:17:10.180 --> 00:17:18.940 Both Abraham and Sarah had moments, even seasons, of doubt, distrust, and disobedience to God. 00:17:19.820 --> 00:17:24.120 But in the long run, they persevered in trusting God's promises. 00:17:24.980 --> 00:17:26.860 They fell down many times. 00:17:28.019 --> 00:17:29.220 But they got back up again. 00:17:30.360 --> 00:17:37.039 And continued to look to the God who had called them and who had made promises to them. 00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:40.079 And the writer of Hebrews says, that is faith. 00:17:41.159 --> 00:17:44.799 Faith does not mean that you never fail or you never doubt. 00:17:45.339 --> 00:17:50.059 But faith does mean that when you fail, you turn back to God and repent. 00:17:50.960 --> 00:17:58.259 And though you may doubt, you ultimately agree with Abraham and Sarah that God is faithful to his promises. 00:17:58.259 --> 00:18:11.539 Now, maybe some of you are facing seemingly impossible situations where you've waited for a long time, but you do not see the fulfillment of God's promise. 00:18:11.640 --> 00:18:13.279 You do not see what you hope for. 00:18:14.220 --> 00:18:19.339 Maybe like Abraham and Sarah, you feel powerless in the face of infertility. 00:18:20.200 --> 00:18:23.680 Maybe you long to have children, but it hasn't come to pass. 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:29.180 What does it mean to consider God faithful in the face of an impossible situation? 00:18:30.259 --> 00:18:33.180 Well, there's much that could be said, but let me say three things. 00:18:34.320 --> 00:18:38.299 First, let me urge you to pour out your heart before the Lord in prayer. 00:18:40.060 --> 00:18:43.799 Set aside an extended time with your spouse to fast and pray together. 00:18:44.680 --> 00:18:45.940 Call the elders of the church. 00:18:46.100 --> 00:18:49.799 We would, like it says in James 5, we would love to come and pray with you. 00:18:49.799 --> 00:18:59.339 You know, I think as 21st century Americans who are very active go-do-it people, we don't tend to do these things well. 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:04.119 Praying, fasting, calling on others, waiting on the Lord. 00:19:05.119 --> 00:19:08.519 Some other Christians in other parts of the world can teach us about these things. 00:19:10.779 --> 00:19:12.339 But that's where we should start. 00:19:13.099 --> 00:19:14.859 By seeking the face of God. 00:19:14.859 --> 00:19:17.599 Second, seek wise counsel. 00:19:18.379 --> 00:19:20.240 Not only medically, but also biblically. 00:19:21.219 --> 00:19:23.939 The world of modern fertility treatments is complicated. 00:19:24.799 --> 00:19:27.439 And the medical establishment is not neutral. 00:19:28.839 --> 00:19:37.159 Most infertility doctors assume a secular worldview that is actually foreign to many of the categories in the Bible. 00:19:37.160 --> 00:19:45.259 And the goal is, prioritize effective results above, at almost any cost. 00:19:46.840 --> 00:19:48.900 Including unborn human lives. 00:19:49.580 --> 00:19:54.880 So be careful not to act out of fear, frustration, or desperation. 00:19:55.740 --> 00:19:58.200 Proceed with caution and proceed with counsel. 00:19:59.060 --> 00:20:03.960 And as you seek counsel, you might consider if God is providentially leading you toward adopting. 00:20:03.960 --> 00:20:09.819 Adoption is not a second best option if you can't have biological children. 00:20:10.799 --> 00:20:15.680 Adoption is a uniquely beautiful display of God's electing love. 00:20:16.400 --> 00:20:22.900 God's gracious intention to bring people into his family who have no natural connection to him. 00:20:22.980 --> 00:20:25.620 Who have no natural claim on his love. 00:20:26.319 --> 00:20:31.039 All of us who are Christians are adopted by God the Father. 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:37.539 If you're considering that, if you even just want to learn more about that, read Russell Moore's book, Adopted for Life. 00:20:37.639 --> 00:20:38.619 It's down on the bookstall. 00:20:39.659 --> 00:20:43.319 Third, pour out your heart before the Lord in prayer. 00:20:43.740 --> 00:20:44.519 Seek wise counsel. 00:20:44.680 --> 00:20:47.139 And third, seek to rest in God's promises. 00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:51.659 God has not promised children to every Christian couple. 00:20:51.660 --> 00:21:04.800 But God has promised that if we abide in Jesus Christ, if we abide in his word, if we abide in his love, we will bear good fruit that will last. 00:21:05.940 --> 00:21:12.320 A few years ago, my wife and I went to a marriage conference led by an older couple who had been married for 40 years. 00:21:13.019 --> 00:21:14.660 They said we wanted to have children. 00:21:14.660 --> 00:21:19.580 We pursued medical treatments to the point that our conscience would allow. 00:21:20.620 --> 00:21:21.560 We were not able to. 00:21:22.540 --> 00:21:29.340 We considered adoption, but ultimately we felt that God gave us the freedom to minister to other couples and to other people's children. 00:21:30.140 --> 00:21:32.120 And they did just that throughout their lives. 00:21:33.240 --> 00:21:36.980 They sometimes traveled for a year or two at a time to care for aging relatives. 00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:43.560 They led marriage conferences, traveling many weekends together. 00:21:44.660 --> 00:21:52.460 In Isaiah 56, God promises to eunuchs, to people unable to bear children, a name better than sons and daughters. 00:21:53.380 --> 00:21:56.920 An everlasting name that will not be cut off. 00:21:57.840 --> 00:22:02.600 Some of you, God has called you to be single, either for a time or for your whole lives. 00:22:03.940 --> 00:22:08.660 And though the church has not always recognized that well, that is a high and holy calling. 00:22:08.660 --> 00:22:13.060 To live in undivided devotion to the king of kings. 00:22:14.100 --> 00:22:17.140 And to be a servant free to go wherever he sends you. 00:22:19.060 --> 00:22:23.140 But maybe you aren't longing for children and unable to have them. 00:22:24.420 --> 00:22:27.400 Maybe you fear the prospect of having children. 00:22:27.519 --> 00:22:32.460 Maybe you think, how could I ever become a good parent when my childhood was such a mess? 00:22:32.460 --> 00:22:37.980 Maybe raising kids seems like the impossible challenge. 00:22:38.779 --> 00:22:41.019 Or at least very difficult and disruptive. 00:22:41.720 --> 00:22:44.039 Perhaps more strategic to avoid it altogether. 00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:47.279 Now these are very real concerns. 00:22:48.340 --> 00:22:53.440 When the people of Israel were exiled in Babylon, many of them felt the same way. 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:56.920 The world around us is foreign and hostile. 00:22:57.519 --> 00:22:59.160 Why would I want to raise kids here? 00:22:59.160 --> 00:23:10.600 But in Jeremiah 29, God said to the Israelite community who were in exile, he said, build houses, settle down, get married, and have kids. 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.940 Multiply there and do not decrease. 00:23:13.860 --> 00:23:22.160 In other words, their family life was to be part of their distinctive witness to the true and living God in a foreign land. 00:23:22.880 --> 00:23:24.480 Now please don't get me wrong here. 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:30.160 The number of children you have is not the measure of your maturity in Christ. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:34.539 But children are a good gift from the Lord. 00:23:35.279 --> 00:23:38.559 They are one of the purposes for which God instituted marriage. 00:23:39.319 --> 00:23:44.440 And if you have a reasonably stable marriage, if you trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:47.319 if you're involved in a supportive church community, 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:51.559 you are better prepared to raise kids than most parents in this world. 00:23:51.559 --> 00:23:57.440 So do not let fear or inconvenience be the thing that holds you back. 00:23:58.700 --> 00:24:03.059 Finally, maybe you are a parent and you feel like you are facing an impossible task. 00:24:03.139 --> 00:24:04.299 Maybe you're a single parent. 00:24:05.019 --> 00:24:09.220 Or maybe it feels like you're a single parent at times because your spouse has to work so much. 00:24:10.179 --> 00:24:12.559 But consider the God who is faithful. 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:19.019 God was faithful to Hagar when she was mistreated by Sarah, 00:24:19.339 --> 00:24:22.779 who was effectively her boss and her landlord at the same time. 00:24:23.339 --> 00:24:27.220 She was left to fend for herself and care for her young son in the wilderness. 00:24:27.799 --> 00:24:31.940 And God came near to her, saw her, and provided for her. 00:24:33.279 --> 00:24:35.720 Consider that God is faithful. 00:24:35.720 --> 00:24:42.440 Whatever the impossible situation you may face, God was faithful to Abraham and Sarah. 00:24:43.600 --> 00:24:46.200 He will be faithful to you as well. 00:24:48.420 --> 00:24:53.380 So faith means obeying God's call into an uncertain future because of the certainty of his promises. 00:24:53.559 --> 00:24:56.579 It means considering God faithful in the midst of impossible situations. 00:24:57.160 --> 00:25:01.019 And finally, faith means accepting our identity as foreigners in this world. 00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:04.180 This is verse 10 and verse 13 through 16. 00:25:04.180 --> 00:25:09.320 And this is the challenge that Abraham faced throughout his whole life, but especially toward the end. 00:25:10.720 --> 00:25:16.120 Do you know that during his whole life, Abraham never became a citizen of Canaan? 00:25:16.680 --> 00:25:19.920 Even though he lived there for over 50 years. 00:25:21.080 --> 00:25:26.200 And 50 years after he first moved to Canaan, toward the end of his life in Genesis 23, 00:25:26.480 --> 00:25:29.039 Abraham said to the inhabitants of the land, he said, 00:25:29.100 --> 00:25:31.900 I am a foreigner and a stranger among you. 00:25:31.900 --> 00:25:38.160 Abraham wasn't a foreigner simply because he was a victim of unhappy circumstances. 00:25:39.440 --> 00:25:41.840 He wasn't a foreigner just because he was forced to be. 00:25:42.780 --> 00:25:48.200 He made a deliberate choice to live his whole life as a foreigner for God's sake. 00:25:49.340 --> 00:25:54.180 Verse 15 says if he just wanted to go back to where he was born and raised, he could have done that. 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:57.940 But no, he was looking forward to the city of God. 00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:00.060 And that's what sustained him. 00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:02.060 And that's what can sustain us. 00:26:02.660 --> 00:26:04.039 Through all the uncertainties. 00:26:04.460 --> 00:26:06.120 Through all the impossible situations. 00:26:06.279 --> 00:26:13.860 Through all the vulnerability and deprivation and insecurity and discomfort and dishonor that comes from being a foreigner. 00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:18.439 He was looking forward to a better country to come. 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:29.099 You see, through faith, the objective future reality of God's promises shapes our personal present experience. 00:26:30.019 --> 00:26:37.799 That's what it means back in verse 1 when it says faith is the assurance of things hoped for and the certainty, the conviction of things not seen. 00:26:37.799 --> 00:26:43.539 It means the objective future reality of God's promises shapes our personal present experience. 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:47.000 Abraham lived his whole life in tents. 00:26:47.980 --> 00:26:49.359 And a tent has no foundations. 00:26:49.980 --> 00:26:52.579 Because he was looking forward to the city with foundations. 00:26:53.899 --> 00:26:55.480 Designed and built by God himself. 00:26:57.159 --> 00:27:03.500 The objective future reality of the city with foundations enables us to live in the midst of an unstable world. 00:27:03.500 --> 00:27:09.339 It enables us to live confidently in God when it seems like your life doesn't have a secure foundation. 00:27:10.079 --> 00:27:13.220 And your circumstances are vulnerable to change at any moment. 00:27:14.319 --> 00:27:19.160 It enables us to pack up and move across the country and know that God will go before us. 00:27:19.779 --> 00:27:22.900 Or it may enable you to live in the same place for 50 years. 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.779 And know that you're not missing out. 00:27:25.579 --> 00:27:27.339 Just because you haven't traveled the world. 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:31.779 The objective future reality of a heavenly homeland. 00:27:31.959 --> 00:27:37.659 A better country in the world to come shapes our way of life now as foreigners in this present world. 00:27:38.339 --> 00:27:40.799 It means that you can be a lifelong American citizen. 00:27:41.379 --> 00:27:42.939 You can work for the U.S. government. 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:49.980 But our greatest love and our greatest highest loyalty is for the international and everlasting kingdom of Jesus Christ. 00:27:49.980 --> 00:27:57.059 It means that if God calls you to do so, you can move here from Texas and stay in the northeast for the rest of your life and love it. 00:28:00.279 --> 00:28:05.640 Or God can call you to move down to Texas from the northeast and you can live down there for the rest of your life and love it. 00:28:07.360 --> 00:28:12.339 It means that when our culture gradually drifts further and further away from Christian principles, 00:28:12.339 --> 00:28:21.159 we don't simply express frustration, but we see it as an opportunity to bear witness to Jesus by living differently from the norm. 00:28:22.619 --> 00:28:27.220 I think that is what God is calling the church in America to in the years to come. 00:28:28.000 --> 00:28:30.539 It's to be willing to live differently from the norm. 00:28:31.459 --> 00:28:36.539 And not simply to express frustration about various cultural trends. 00:28:36.539 --> 00:28:40.159 But to embrace our identity as foreigners in this world. 00:28:40.480 --> 00:28:42.399 Who can love our neighbors. 00:28:43.339 --> 00:28:47.059 Because we have a heavenly homeland and a better country to come. 00:28:48.460 --> 00:28:53.899 So faith means obeying God's call into an uncertain future because of God's certain promises. 00:28:54.119 --> 00:28:59.339 It means considering God faithful in the midst of impossible situations because nothing is impossible with him. 00:28:59.960 --> 00:29:03.460 And it means accepting our identity as foreigners because we have a better country to come. 00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:06.139 Abraham lived by faith. 00:29:06.539 --> 00:29:07.539 Imperfectly. 00:29:07.539 --> 00:29:16.319 But there was one who lived as a foreigner in this world even more than Abraham did. 00:29:17.359 --> 00:29:25.899 Jesus Christ obeyed God's call to leave the security and comfort of heaven and become a foreigner and a stranger in this world. 00:29:27.099 --> 00:29:31.559 Jesus Christ continued throughout his life facing an unwavering obedience. 00:29:31.559 --> 00:29:34.559 Even when facing impossible situations. 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:37.460 Bearing the sin of the world. 00:29:39.159 --> 00:29:42.039 And he said, Father, your will be done. 00:29:42.679 --> 00:29:44.879 Because he considered God faithful. 00:29:45.379 --> 00:29:48.399 And all the way to the end, Jesus identified as a foreigner in this world. 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.539 He gave up his rights. 00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:51.879 He was crucified outside the city. 00:29:52.879 --> 00:29:55.419 He was despised, rejected, homeless. 00:29:55.420 --> 00:29:57.080 And forsaken. 00:29:57.080 --> 00:30:02.000 And he became an outsider so that we might be invited in. 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:05.980 And brought into the family of God now and forever. 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:09.800 And have a place in the eternal city of God. 00:30:10.640 --> 00:30:13.360 And that Jesus who was crucified is now risen. 00:30:14.460 --> 00:30:17.860 And it says he's not ashamed to call us his brothers and sisters. 00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:25.339 And when we trust in Jesus, he's become our brother and God is not ashamed to be called our God. 00:30:26.199 --> 00:30:28.740 And that's the best promise of all. 00:30:30.079 --> 00:30:34.799 The God of the universe is not ashamed to be called your God. 00:30:35.539 --> 00:30:37.439 Your Father in heaven. 00:30:38.019 --> 00:30:39.139 He claims you. 00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:44.079 It's not easy to live as a foreigner in this world. 00:30:44.419 --> 00:30:46.539 But God turns what is hard for our good. 00:30:46.539 --> 00:30:50.159 I want to conclude as I began. 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:53.759 By reading the words of some who are foreigners among us. 00:30:54.740 --> 00:30:56.639 The last question I asked them was this. 00:30:56.740 --> 00:31:01.960 How has God comforted you, taught you, and made you a blessing while living in a foreign land? 00:31:02.019 --> 00:31:05.000 And this is what I would hope that he would teach each of us. 00:31:05.379 --> 00:31:07.859 As we seek to live in this world as foreigners. 00:31:10.460 --> 00:31:13.639 God has taught me that problems and trials never last forever. 00:31:13.640 --> 00:31:17.220 He has given me assurance of my salvation. 00:31:18.400 --> 00:31:25.500 God has used the fellowship of believers in the church to show me how brilliantly the light of the gospel still shines in the midst of darkness. 00:31:26.020 --> 00:31:30.160 God has made me understand through my struggles here that the whole earth belongs to him. 00:31:30.860 --> 00:31:35.900 He has also taught me not to create an idol of the acceptance and approval of men. 00:31:35.900 --> 00:31:44.000 God comforted me by providing me another loving family here that I would never expect to get if I did not leave my own country. 00:31:44.560 --> 00:31:47.960 I have learned to rely on God who provides himself. 00:31:49.140 --> 00:31:52.400 When I am obedient to God, I feel him saying, I am with you. 00:31:52.800 --> 00:31:55.140 When I feel weak, that's when I am strong. 00:31:55.140 --> 00:31:58.200 God has taught me to be obedient to my bosses. 00:31:58.980 --> 00:32:03.700 Some people say it's not good to submit to authority because a bad boss can take advantage of you. 00:32:04.020 --> 00:32:08.280 But it's better to be humble and give grace to these people as we have been given grace. 00:32:09.740 --> 00:32:13.259 Finally, our obvious alienness brought lots of people to speak to us. 00:32:13.800 --> 00:32:17.320 Very different people from all walks of life, which in itself has been a blessing. 00:32:17.319 --> 00:32:27.359 And remarkably often, the ensuing conversations led to an exchange about God and our faith and blessings experienced far more often than this had ever happened back home. 00:32:28.159 --> 00:32:43.639 Through all this, God proved himself to us as unshakably stable, reliably faithful, unquestionably wise, marvelously purposeful, graciously forgiving, full of love, worthy of all our trust and reliance. 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:46.279 Amen and amen. 00:32:47.319 --> 00:32:48.119 Let's pray. 00:32:55.960 --> 00:33:02.220 Lord, we thank you that your call to us comes with a great promise. 00:33:04.539 --> 00:33:14.099 We thank you that you are unshakably stable, reliably faithful, unquestionably wise, marvelously purposeful, 00:33:14.099 --> 00:33:18.899 and worthy of all our trust and reliance. 00:33:20.639 --> 00:33:34.399 Lord, would you strengthen us to live as foreigners in this world because we look forward to a better city to come. 00:33:34.400 --> 00:33:42.500 Strengthen us, Lord, to live by faith and hope and love in you. 00:33:45.080 --> 00:33:50.080 Fill us with your spirit today, Lord, so that we may be empowered to do that. 00:33:51.060 --> 00:33:52.759 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:33:53.580 --> 00:33:53.780 Amen. 00:34:04.400 --> 00:34:24.680 Let's stand and respond to God's word together. 00:34:24.680 --> 00:34:25.860 Amen. 00:34:25.860 --> 00:34:26.579 Amen. 00:34:26.579 --> 00:34:56.559 Thank you.