WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.339 You are listening to a message from Southwood Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama. 00:00:06.799 --> 00:00:10.519 ! Our passion is to experience and express grace. Join us. 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:11.720 ! 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:45.060 Goodness. If you've not been at Southwood before, when the pastor cries before the sermon, it is not a good sign, and you should start praying for him right now. 00:00:45.060 --> 00:00:59.560 Now, it's not just appropriate for our graduates, but for all of us who are needing to walk by faith, who are perhaps some of us wondering, 00:01:00.380 --> 00:01:04.760 what might it mean to have faith in the God of the Bible? 00:01:06.379 --> 00:01:13.120 I'm going to read just the first three verses for now, but we're going through the whole chapter, and I'd encourage you to keep a Bible open. 00:01:15.060 --> 00:01:26.960 To Hebrews 11, as we're going to look at a lot of it as we go, but right now, this is the holy, inerrant, infallible Word of God. 00:01:28.600 --> 00:01:35.879 Now, faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. 00:01:37.099 --> 00:01:39.920 For by it, the people of old received their commendation. 00:01:39.920 --> 00:01:51.200 By faith, we understand that the universe was created by the Word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of things that are visible. 00:01:53.760 --> 00:01:56.740 God, thank you for your Word. 00:01:56.739 --> 00:02:12.379 Lord, would you help us this morning, as your people in this chapter through the Old Testament, as they heard your voice and trusted you and followed you, 00:02:12.840 --> 00:02:22.240 would you so help us, speak to us that we would hear you, work in our hearts, spirit, that we might love you, trust you, 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:26.219 and in our lives, that we might follow you all of our days. 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:30.060 We ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:02:35.640 --> 00:02:43.540 Seeing is believing is a philosophy that's familiar to many in our world these days. 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:50.060 Scientific naturalism tells you that what you see is all there is. 00:02:50.239 --> 00:02:52.579 That's all you can count on. 00:02:53.680 --> 00:02:59.659 But think about it more at a street level, the way we encounter it in our lives. 00:03:00.239 --> 00:03:06.039 Even in a world where we are skeptical if the video on social media is actually real, 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:10.639 for many of us, it is the things that we see. 00:03:10.639 --> 00:03:15.139 Our security comes from numbers we see in our bank account. 00:03:16.239 --> 00:03:21.939 Our happiness comes from the stuff we have that we can look at and enjoy. 00:03:22.299 --> 00:03:25.879 Our beauty is often seen as skin deep. 00:03:26.979 --> 00:03:32.759 Our importance, our value in the world, whether we've been successful in life, 00:03:32.799 --> 00:03:36.359 is often seen in the size of our houses, 00:03:36.360 --> 00:03:41.300 the type of car that we drive, the location of our office, 00:03:42.140 --> 00:03:48.500 building our lives around the things we can see with our eyes, right? 00:03:48.740 --> 00:03:50.380 Seems to come natural. 00:03:51.200 --> 00:03:52.160 Makes sense. 00:03:53.940 --> 00:04:02.660 Except that God's word tells us we are made to walk by faith, 00:04:02.659 --> 00:04:05.599 not by sight. 00:04:05.599 --> 00:04:11.599 To build our lives quite differently, actually, around unseen realities. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:16.420 There's so much that we can't see. 00:04:18.600 --> 00:04:20.180 I mean, our graduates, 00:04:20.680 --> 00:04:24.779 they're preparing to walk into new places, 00:04:25.399 --> 00:04:26.680 new people, 00:04:26.680 --> 00:04:34.319 new life experiences that are hard for them even to imagine today what's ahead. 00:04:35.920 --> 00:04:43.240 Our prayer guide's expectant mothers list indicates quite a few of you are investing lots of energy 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:47.360 and excitement in preparing for a new person who will transform your life, 00:04:47.540 --> 00:04:50.360 and you don't even know what he or she is like yet. 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:53.639 Come to think of it, 00:04:53.960 --> 00:04:56.900 whether you're awaiting test results, 00:04:57.580 --> 00:05:00.740 navigating technological changes, 00:05:01.259 --> 00:05:03.000 trying to predict the weather, 00:05:03.400 --> 00:05:09.160 even things that we see leave us with lots of uncertainty. 00:05:09.360 --> 00:05:10.500 All of us. 00:05:10.780 --> 00:05:13.819 Whom and what will we trust? 00:05:16.160 --> 00:05:18.720 Hebrews has just quoted at the end of chapter 10, 00:05:18.720 --> 00:05:19.840 last week, 00:05:19.920 --> 00:05:20.920 that famous line, 00:05:21.040 --> 00:05:24.420 the righteous shall live by faith. 00:05:25.260 --> 00:05:26.420 That's how we're to live, 00:05:26.480 --> 00:05:27.340 by faith. 00:05:27.420 --> 00:05:29.240 And so chapter 11 starts by saying, 00:05:29.580 --> 00:05:32.580 faith is the assurance of things hoped for, 00:05:32.880 --> 00:05:36.940 the conviction of things not seen. 00:05:38.020 --> 00:05:38.900 In other words, 00:05:38.960 --> 00:05:40.500 what do those words mean? 00:05:40.540 --> 00:05:42.180 And what's it telling us about faith? 00:05:42.180 --> 00:05:46.260 It's the confidence of counting on something, 00:05:46.259 --> 00:05:49.939 of building my life around something, 00:05:50.219 --> 00:05:53.219 of placing my hope in something 00:05:53.219 --> 00:05:56.680 that my eyes don't see right now. 00:05:58.159 --> 00:06:00.939 Why in the world would you do that? 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:03.480 That sounds crazy, right? 00:06:03.659 --> 00:06:06.539 That's blind faith, isn't it? 00:06:07.519 --> 00:06:10.060 Well, not exactly. 00:06:10.800 --> 00:06:13.259 You're not just insisting on believing something 00:06:13.259 --> 00:06:16.339 against all evidence to the contrary. 00:06:17.259 --> 00:06:20.139 No, he's actually about to give us story 00:06:20.139 --> 00:06:22.500 after story after story 00:06:22.500 --> 00:06:25.219 of people who lived like this, 00:06:25.360 --> 00:06:27.879 trusting God when they couldn't see. 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:31.639 And it's not an invitation here 00:06:31.639 --> 00:06:32.899 when he says live by faith 00:06:32.899 --> 00:06:34.560 to check your brain at the door 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:36.920 and just come believe. 00:06:37.439 --> 00:06:38.339 That's not it. 00:06:38.339 --> 00:06:42.719 Rather, he actually begins the opposite direction. 00:06:42.859 --> 00:06:43.479 He begins by saying, 00:06:43.639 --> 00:06:44.299 open your eyes. 00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:45.799 He turns our eyes, 00:06:46.439 --> 00:06:48.979 not only to the real stories, 00:06:49.119 --> 00:06:52.299 but also to the real world all around us. 00:06:52.459 --> 00:06:54.159 Do you see all this, he says? 00:06:54.359 --> 00:06:55.379 Look out the windows. 00:06:55.839 --> 00:06:59.519 God made all this from nothing. 00:07:01.019 --> 00:07:02.679 All these things your eyes see, 00:07:02.819 --> 00:07:04.120 the closer you look, 00:07:04.359 --> 00:07:06.239 they have the marks of a designer, 00:07:06.459 --> 00:07:07.019 don't they? 00:07:07.019 --> 00:07:09.219 I mean, you're thinking, 00:07:09.419 --> 00:07:12.319 I didn't see mountains and bugs 00:07:12.319 --> 00:07:15.299 and flowers and stars formed. 00:07:15.560 --> 00:07:17.560 I didn't see them come into existence. 00:07:17.839 --> 00:07:18.579 How'd that happen? 00:07:18.819 --> 00:07:20.759 There's a God behind it all. 00:07:21.699 --> 00:07:23.659 And people have been trusting him 00:07:23.659 --> 00:07:25.459 for millennia now, 00:07:25.659 --> 00:07:28.939 even though they haven't physically seen him. 00:07:30.759 --> 00:07:31.199 In other words, 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:33.479 it may just actually be 00:07:33.479 --> 00:07:36.519 that believing is seeing. 00:07:37.019 --> 00:07:39.180 That the clearest vision possible 00:07:39.180 --> 00:07:41.019 comes when you set your eyes 00:07:41.019 --> 00:07:42.639 on things you can't see. 00:07:42.899 --> 00:07:44.359 What could that look like? 00:07:44.399 --> 00:07:45.779 That's so weird, pastor. 00:07:45.899 --> 00:07:46.979 What are you talking about? 00:07:47.359 --> 00:07:48.959 Can I live by faith? 00:07:49.799 --> 00:07:50.919 Would I want to? 00:07:51.019 --> 00:07:52.319 How would I do that? 00:07:53.620 --> 00:07:55.279 That's what this chapter's about. 00:07:55.279 --> 00:07:58.959 Though our physical eyes are limited, 00:08:00.459 --> 00:08:02.659 the eyes of faith see. 00:08:03.319 --> 00:08:04.279 Above all else, 00:08:04.359 --> 00:08:06.719 they see a person. 00:08:09.219 --> 00:08:09.939 Here's what I mean. 00:08:10.279 --> 00:08:12.259 In the classic movie Aladdin, 00:08:13.059 --> 00:08:13.659 you've all, 00:08:14.459 --> 00:08:16.199 oh, I wish you'd all seen Aladdin. 00:08:16.479 --> 00:08:17.979 I'm going to show you just a little bit of it. 00:08:18.659 --> 00:08:19.659 Princess Jasmine, 00:08:19.660 --> 00:08:21.520 and she leaves the palace, okay, 00:08:21.660 --> 00:08:22.700 where she's grown up. 00:08:22.900 --> 00:08:25.240 And she finds herself in a marketplace 00:08:25.240 --> 00:08:27.560 that she's never seen before. 00:08:27.840 --> 00:08:29.980 Completely unfamiliar place. 00:08:30.980 --> 00:08:33.139 But the boy who lives there on the streets, 00:08:33.320 --> 00:08:34.879 he knows the marketplace. 00:08:35.440 --> 00:08:36.879 And they're being pursued, 00:08:37.220 --> 00:08:37.639 chased, 00:08:38.040 --> 00:08:39.340 and they're trapped now 00:08:39.340 --> 00:08:40.680 on the edge of a building. 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:42.239 And she can't see, 00:08:42.359 --> 00:08:44.579 has no idea what's over the edge. 00:08:44.819 --> 00:08:46.819 She's left with a famous choice. 00:09:01.039 --> 00:09:02.879 A leap of faith, 00:09:03.479 --> 00:09:04.359 one might say. 00:09:05.159 --> 00:09:08.079 But not a leap for no reason. 00:09:08.080 --> 00:09:11.080 She trusted the boy, 00:09:11.900 --> 00:09:12.220 right? 00:09:13.840 --> 00:09:15.080 Later in the story, 00:09:15.200 --> 00:09:17.320 that's actually how she recognizes 00:09:17.320 --> 00:09:19.780 this boy when he's dressed up as a prince. 00:09:20.100 --> 00:09:21.040 Do you trust me? 00:09:21.480 --> 00:09:22.500 Do you trust me? 00:09:22.900 --> 00:09:24.180 He's offering to show her the world 00:09:24.180 --> 00:09:24.980 on a magic carpet, 00:09:25.100 --> 00:09:25.740 and look what happens. 00:09:33.740 --> 00:09:37.280 Do you trust me? 00:09:38.080 --> 00:09:40.100 I showed you that second clip 00:09:40.100 --> 00:09:43.960 because I think God wants us 00:09:43.960 --> 00:09:46.300 to recognize him 00:09:46.300 --> 00:09:49.020 saying again to us, 00:09:49.780 --> 00:09:50.660 do you trust me? 00:09:51.720 --> 00:09:53.320 Do you trust me? 00:09:55.240 --> 00:09:57.420 There's so much you don't know. 00:09:58.220 --> 00:09:59.820 There's so much out there 00:09:59.820 --> 00:10:00.900 you haven't seen, 00:10:00.960 --> 00:10:02.040 and you can't see, 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:03.800 and you won't understand. 00:10:03.799 --> 00:10:07.519 But do you trust me? 00:10:08.159 --> 00:10:10.359 That's what it comes down to. 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:14.479 It's interesting as we go through this chapter 00:10:14.479 --> 00:10:16.199 how much he talks about seeing. 00:10:18.259 --> 00:10:20.019 Notice by faith, 00:10:21.019 --> 00:10:23.259 verse 26, 00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:26.639 Moses left Egypt, 00:10:27.279 --> 00:10:30.139 not being afraid of the anger of the king, 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:32.480 even though the king was right there 00:10:32.480 --> 00:10:33.220 in front of him, 00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:34.559 and very powerful. 00:10:35.580 --> 00:10:37.460 Moses boldly stood before him, 00:10:37.799 --> 00:10:39.679 called the king to account. 00:10:40.279 --> 00:10:41.580 How did he do that? 00:10:41.620 --> 00:10:43.259 How did he stand in front of him? 00:10:43.259 --> 00:10:48.840 For he endured as seeing him 00:10:48.840 --> 00:10:50.960 who is invisible. 00:10:52.279 --> 00:10:53.899 It's a great statement of faith 00:10:53.899 --> 00:10:56.019 if you want one to take home with you today. 00:10:57.100 --> 00:11:00.600 The eyes of faith see God's person. 00:11:01.819 --> 00:11:03.980 Believe that he exists, 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:05.860 verse 6 says, 00:11:05.939 --> 00:11:08.039 that you can actually draw near to him 00:11:08.039 --> 00:11:09.599 because he's personal. 00:11:09.759 --> 00:11:11.539 He wants you to know him. 00:11:13.079 --> 00:11:17.919 So how do you see an invisible God? 00:11:18.039 --> 00:11:20.299 Believe then that he exists. 00:11:20.519 --> 00:11:21.740 Well, verse 3, remember, 00:11:21.899 --> 00:11:24.379 told us that God's creation 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:25.919 is a big part of that. 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:29.459 We can see that someone started all this. 00:11:29.779 --> 00:11:32.120 Someone incredibly powerful 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:34.960 and creative and orderly 00:11:34.960 --> 00:11:36.419 and preexistent. 00:11:36.580 --> 00:11:38.500 Someone did this. 00:11:39.879 --> 00:11:41.120 We know that Moses 00:11:41.120 --> 00:11:43.580 had heard God speak 00:11:43.580 --> 00:11:45.960 by this point in his story. 00:11:47.279 --> 00:11:49.340 We hear him speak to us, don't we? 00:11:49.440 --> 00:11:50.159 In his word. 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:54.340 It tells us who this creator God is. 00:11:54.519 --> 00:11:56.919 It explains so much about his world 00:11:56.919 --> 00:11:58.620 and about our place in it. 00:11:58.840 --> 00:11:59.700 And over time, 00:11:59.919 --> 00:12:00.620 people have learned 00:12:00.620 --> 00:12:01.960 that his words are trustworthy. 00:12:02.120 --> 00:12:03.139 And true. 00:12:03.620 --> 00:12:05.000 For example, verse 11, 00:12:05.399 --> 00:12:06.899 by faith, Sarah. 00:12:07.519 --> 00:12:08.220 What happens to her? 00:12:08.399 --> 00:12:10.480 She conceives a child 00:12:10.480 --> 00:12:12.320 when to her human eyes, 00:12:12.519 --> 00:12:14.560 physically, she's too old. 00:12:15.019 --> 00:12:18.000 But she sees God. 00:12:18.759 --> 00:12:21.320 She considers him faithful 00:12:21.320 --> 00:12:23.340 who had promised. 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:27.080 She hadn't physically seen God, right? 00:12:27.620 --> 00:12:30.159 But Sarah had watched for decades 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:33.439 as God led her and her husband Abraham, 00:12:33.439 --> 00:12:35.759 as God rescued her 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:37.360 in various situations, 00:12:37.500 --> 00:12:39.219 as God helped Abraham grow. 00:12:39.559 --> 00:12:41.639 So she saw God 00:12:41.639 --> 00:12:44.120 and learned that she could trust him. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:45.480 He comes through. 00:12:46.299 --> 00:12:48.500 Person after person here 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:51.240 acts on things they haven't seen 00:12:51.240 --> 00:12:54.759 because they trust God himself. 00:12:54.759 --> 00:12:58.240 Do you slow down 00:12:58.240 --> 00:13:00.500 to see the invisible God? 00:13:00.500 --> 00:13:01.299 If you don't, 00:13:01.360 --> 00:13:02.139 it'll just be everything 00:13:02.139 --> 00:13:04.039 that comes in front of your face. 00:13:04.360 --> 00:13:06.100 That is the very beginning 00:13:06.100 --> 00:13:08.179 of the life of faith, 00:13:08.379 --> 00:13:08.639 y'all. 00:13:09.139 --> 00:13:09.620 Seeing 00:13:09.620 --> 00:13:11.879 the invisible God. 00:13:11.879 --> 00:13:13.519 If he's real, 00:13:13.840 --> 00:13:14.860 and he is, 00:13:15.740 --> 00:13:17.399 if he made this world, 00:13:17.600 --> 00:13:18.620 and he did, 00:13:19.580 --> 00:13:21.379 then you will not be left 00:13:21.379 --> 00:13:23.240 without reminders of him 00:13:23.240 --> 00:13:25.799 no matter where you live this fall. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:28.159 No matter how confusing 00:13:28.159 --> 00:13:30.659 the path forward appears to you, 00:13:30.799 --> 00:13:31.899 you won't be left 00:13:31.899 --> 00:13:33.179 without things 00:13:33.179 --> 00:13:34.799 that will point you to see him. 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:36.480 You don't have to see the future. 00:13:36.480 --> 00:13:38.080 You see the God 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:40.320 of the present and the future. 00:13:40.320 --> 00:13:42.600 And you look by faith for him. 00:13:42.860 --> 00:13:44.480 And you trust him. 00:13:45.520 --> 00:13:46.800 That's living by faith. 00:13:48.560 --> 00:13:49.120 Secondly, 00:13:50.100 --> 00:13:52.340 we learn the eyes of faith 00:13:52.340 --> 00:13:54.480 see God's promises. 00:13:55.760 --> 00:13:56.940 Even seeing ahead 00:13:56.940 --> 00:13:57.879 to their fulfillment. 00:14:00.320 --> 00:14:03.320 This is so remarkable to me. 00:14:03.379 --> 00:14:03.980 I hope I can 00:14:03.980 --> 00:14:06.260 give you a picture of it. 00:14:06.340 --> 00:14:08.080 It made me pray this week. 00:14:08.180 --> 00:14:09.880 God, help my faith. 00:14:11.120 --> 00:14:12.540 See, one after another 00:14:12.540 --> 00:14:13.379 in this chapter, 00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:16.320 they hold on to God's promises 00:14:16.320 --> 00:14:17.060 to them, 00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:19.520 even though for the large majority 00:14:19.520 --> 00:14:19.980 of them, 00:14:20.200 --> 00:14:21.560 they don't actually get 00:14:21.560 --> 00:14:22.840 those promises fulfilled 00:14:22.840 --> 00:14:24.760 in their lifetimes. 00:14:25.400 --> 00:14:28.060 Their entire lives. 00:14:28.280 --> 00:14:29.480 Look at Sarah again, 00:14:29.800 --> 00:14:32.200 who believed God was faithful. 00:14:33.320 --> 00:14:35.400 And so she and her husband Abraham 00:14:35.399 --> 00:14:37.019 become the parents 00:14:37.019 --> 00:14:38.059 of descendants 00:14:38.059 --> 00:14:39.840 as many as the stars 00:14:39.840 --> 00:14:41.059 and the sand. 00:14:41.360 --> 00:14:41.799 Amazing. 00:14:42.559 --> 00:14:43.879 But did they live long enough 00:14:43.879 --> 00:14:44.740 to see that happen? 00:14:46.819 --> 00:14:47.299 No. 00:14:48.559 --> 00:14:49.980 Verse 13. 00:14:50.620 --> 00:14:53.559 These all died in faith, 00:14:54.039 --> 00:14:55.740 not having received 00:14:55.740 --> 00:14:57.199 the things promised, 00:14:58.199 --> 00:14:59.600 but having seen them 00:14:59.600 --> 00:15:01.039 and greeted them 00:15:01.039 --> 00:15:02.439 from afar. 00:15:03.400 --> 00:15:05.560 That's repeated again 00:15:05.560 --> 00:15:06.700 after all the people 00:15:06.700 --> 00:15:08.380 who suffered terribly 00:15:08.380 --> 00:15:09.920 and were commended 00:15:09.920 --> 00:15:11.220 for their faith, 00:15:11.360 --> 00:15:12.720 but verse 39 says, 00:15:12.960 --> 00:15:14.100 did not receive 00:15:14.100 --> 00:15:16.300 what was promised yet. 00:15:16.299 --> 00:15:20.179 But what did all these see? 00:15:20.859 --> 00:15:21.919 What kept them going? 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:24.019 They saw the things 00:15:24.019 --> 00:15:25.139 God promised 00:15:25.139 --> 00:15:26.339 to the point that they 00:15:26.339 --> 00:15:28.120 greeted them from afar. 00:15:28.379 --> 00:15:29.459 They were that real. 00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:31.539 What faith they had. 00:15:31.859 --> 00:15:33.679 They so trusted this God, 00:15:34.039 --> 00:15:35.139 believed that He'd proven 00:15:35.139 --> 00:15:36.079 Himself faithful, 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:37.639 found being His 00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:40.019 so wonderfully worthy 00:15:40.019 --> 00:15:42.019 that they could die 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:43.159 without receiving 00:15:43.159 --> 00:15:43.939 the fulfillment 00:15:43.939 --> 00:15:45.339 of His promise. 00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:46.440 Do you believe that? 00:15:46.899 --> 00:15:48.519 Look at Moses' story. 00:15:48.680 --> 00:15:50.000 It's so powerful. 00:15:50.180 --> 00:15:51.340 Verse 24. 00:15:53.300 --> 00:15:55.019 By faith, Moses, 00:15:55.560 --> 00:15:57.300 when he was grown up, 00:15:57.840 --> 00:15:59.060 refused to be called 00:15:59.060 --> 00:16:00.600 the son of Pharaoh's daughter, 00:16:00.960 --> 00:16:01.639 choosing rather 00:16:01.639 --> 00:16:02.759 to be mistreated 00:16:02.759 --> 00:16:04.139 with the people of God 00:16:04.139 --> 00:16:05.580 than to enjoy 00:16:05.580 --> 00:16:07.399 the fleeting pleasures of sin. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:08.860 He considered 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:10.420 the reproach of Christ 00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:11.800 greater wealth 00:16:11.800 --> 00:16:14.040 than the treasures of Egypt, 00:16:14.039 --> 00:16:15.980 for he was looking 00:16:15.980 --> 00:16:17.599 to the reward. 00:16:18.839 --> 00:16:20.959 Moses had at his disposal 00:16:20.959 --> 00:16:22.059 the power, 00:16:22.719 --> 00:16:23.879 the prestige, 00:16:24.419 --> 00:16:25.579 the influence, 00:16:25.759 --> 00:16:28.120 the wealth of the world 00:16:28.120 --> 00:16:29.579 in the nation of Egypt, right? 00:16:29.819 --> 00:16:31.339 Thanks to God sending Joseph 00:16:31.339 --> 00:16:32.899 there to prepare Egypt 00:16:32.899 --> 00:16:34.480 for the seven years of famine. 00:16:34.959 --> 00:16:36.699 Every nation around 00:16:36.699 --> 00:16:38.059 is coming to Egypt. 00:16:38.059 --> 00:16:38.459 Egypt. 00:16:39.459 --> 00:16:41.259 And Moses lives 00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:43.119 in the palace. 00:16:45.619 --> 00:16:46.879 But God's people 00:16:46.879 --> 00:16:47.919 were enslaved. 00:16:49.919 --> 00:16:51.419 And Moses chooses 00:16:51.419 --> 00:16:52.339 which one? 00:16:53.939 --> 00:16:55.039 To be with them. 00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:57.559 Mistreated 00:16:57.559 --> 00:16:59.459 with God's people. 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:01.519 Think about it, y'all. 00:17:02.279 --> 00:17:02.759 Mistreated 00:17:02.759 --> 00:17:05.339 with these slaves 00:17:05.339 --> 00:17:07.480 or pleasant 00:17:07.480 --> 00:17:09.160 and comfortable 00:17:09.160 --> 00:17:10.279 and rich 00:17:10.279 --> 00:17:11.819 in sin. 00:17:13.819 --> 00:17:15.420 How did Moses decide? 00:17:17.200 --> 00:17:17.980 It wasn't just 00:17:17.980 --> 00:17:18.879 that he was so holy. 00:17:19.099 --> 00:17:20.420 Moses did the math. 00:17:21.059 --> 00:17:21.519 It says. 00:17:22.700 --> 00:17:24.359 If God is real, 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:25.940 then being on 00:17:25.940 --> 00:17:27.099 his team, 00:17:27.240 --> 00:17:28.400 even if it hurts 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.160 for days 00:17:29.160 --> 00:17:30.180 or months 00:17:30.180 --> 00:17:31.440 or years, 00:17:31.440 --> 00:17:33.279 even if I never 00:17:33.279 --> 00:17:35.299 make it to the promised land 00:17:35.299 --> 00:17:36.420 before I die 00:17:36.420 --> 00:17:37.380 and he didn't, 00:17:38.980 --> 00:17:40.080 it's actually 00:17:40.080 --> 00:17:41.779 way more valuable 00:17:41.779 --> 00:17:43.740 in the long run 00:17:43.740 --> 00:17:45.799 than all the gold 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:46.380 in Egypt 00:17:46.380 --> 00:17:47.259 which will only 00:17:47.259 --> 00:17:48.240 make me feel good 00:17:48.240 --> 00:17:49.380 for a little while. 00:17:50.460 --> 00:17:51.440 I've got 00:17:51.440 --> 00:17:52.380 God himself, 00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:53.900 Moses said. 00:17:53.940 --> 00:17:54.240 I've got 00:17:54.240 --> 00:17:55.380 eternal treasure. 00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:57.259 Life is 00:17:57.259 --> 00:17:58.400 not all about 00:17:58.400 --> 00:17:59.240 what I see 00:17:59.240 --> 00:18:00.480 right in front of me 00:18:00.480 --> 00:18:01.319 because God 00:18:01.319 --> 00:18:02.000 has promised 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:02.839 to deliver 00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:03.640 his people. 00:18:03.759 --> 00:18:04.579 I can trust 00:18:04.579 --> 00:18:04.960 him. 00:18:06.599 --> 00:18:07.099 Y'all, 00:18:07.180 --> 00:18:07.839 that's hard. 00:18:09.160 --> 00:18:10.019 The fleeting 00:18:10.019 --> 00:18:10.680 pleasures 00:18:10.680 --> 00:18:12.000 of sin 00:18:12.000 --> 00:18:12.640 look 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:13.500 exactly 00:18:13.500 --> 00:18:14.279 like that. 00:18:14.339 --> 00:18:14.779 They feel, 00:18:14.960 --> 00:18:15.420 they sound, 00:18:15.640 --> 00:18:16.180 they taste 00:18:16.180 --> 00:18:17.120 pleasurable. 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:19.819 That's what it says. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:21.759 And so, 00:18:21.839 --> 00:18:22.200 if you're going 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:22.720 to choose 00:18:22.720 --> 00:18:23.779 something different, 00:18:24.120 --> 00:18:25.599 you have to believe 00:18:25.599 --> 00:18:27.439 that God's ways, 00:18:27.719 --> 00:18:28.679 God's laws 00:18:28.679 --> 00:18:29.659 are sweeter 00:18:29.659 --> 00:18:31.099 than honey. 00:18:33.740 --> 00:18:34.779 Seeing God 00:18:34.779 --> 00:18:36.539 as the ultimate 00:18:36.539 --> 00:18:37.439 king, 00:18:37.939 --> 00:18:38.959 seeing his words 00:18:38.959 --> 00:18:39.919 as trustworthy, 00:18:40.240 --> 00:18:41.599 seeing his promises 00:18:41.599 --> 00:18:42.559 as true 00:18:42.559 --> 00:18:43.519 and things that are 00:18:43.519 --> 00:18:44.799 actually able 00:18:44.799 --> 00:18:45.839 to be held on to, 00:18:46.039 --> 00:18:47.079 that's what enables 00:18:47.079 --> 00:18:47.419 you, 00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:48.179 for example, 00:18:48.619 --> 00:18:49.679 to say no 00:18:49.679 --> 00:18:50.299 to sex 00:18:50.299 --> 00:18:51.379 before marriage. 00:18:51.380 --> 00:18:52.580 Even when it's 00:18:52.580 --> 00:18:53.900 increasingly popular 00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:54.900 and your head 00:18:54.900 --> 00:18:55.400 tells you 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:56.480 it makes sense. 00:18:58.200 --> 00:18:58.920 It's what enables 00:18:58.920 --> 00:18:59.540 you to say no 00:18:59.540 --> 00:19:00.420 to using AI 00:19:00.420 --> 00:19:01.360 to cheat 00:19:01.360 --> 00:19:02.160 on the project 00:19:02.160 --> 00:19:02.940 when everyone 00:19:02.940 --> 00:19:04.220 else is doing it 00:19:04.220 --> 00:19:05.000 and your grade 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:06.000 will probably be 00:19:06.000 --> 00:19:06.880 lower than theirs 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:07.820 if you don't. 00:19:08.760 --> 00:19:09.560 It's what enables 00:19:09.560 --> 00:19:10.500 you to say yes 00:19:10.500 --> 00:19:12.040 to a Sabbath day 00:19:12.040 --> 00:19:13.060 when it feels 00:19:13.060 --> 00:19:13.880 like you're falling 00:19:13.880 --> 00:19:14.620 behind 00:19:14.620 --> 00:19:16.540 because God says 00:19:16.540 --> 00:19:17.580 it's how you work 00:19:17.580 --> 00:19:18.080 best. 00:19:18.940 --> 00:19:19.700 It's a gift, 00:19:19.700 --> 00:19:20.620 I promise. 00:19:21.539 --> 00:19:21.960 He says 00:19:21.960 --> 00:19:23.180 just trust me. 00:19:25.860 --> 00:19:26.460 Maybe you're 00:19:26.460 --> 00:19:26.779 getting ready 00:19:26.779 --> 00:19:27.120 to move 00:19:27.120 --> 00:19:28.039 to a new place 00:19:28.039 --> 00:19:30.120 and you're worried 00:19:30.120 --> 00:19:30.440 you're going 00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:31.019 to be alone. 00:19:33.299 --> 00:19:34.039 You'll struggle 00:19:34.039 --> 00:19:34.759 to fit in, 00:19:35.380 --> 00:19:36.340 find community. 00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:38.620 By faith 00:19:38.620 --> 00:19:39.740 you can see 00:19:39.740 --> 00:19:40.680 God's promise 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:41.480 that Bill mentioned 00:19:41.480 --> 00:19:41.860 earlier, 00:19:42.019 --> 00:19:43.259 never to leave you 00:19:43.259 --> 00:19:45.200 nor forsake you. 00:19:47.160 --> 00:19:48.039 Even when you 00:19:48.039 --> 00:19:48.720 feel alone, 00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:50.580 you can say 00:19:50.580 --> 00:19:51.420 I'll go. 00:19:53.819 --> 00:19:54.740 Maybe you're 00:19:54.740 --> 00:19:56.120 deeply sad 00:19:56.120 --> 00:19:56.960 about being 00:19:56.960 --> 00:19:57.940 childless. 00:19:59.860 --> 00:20:00.620 Sometimes it 00:20:00.620 --> 00:20:01.259 makes you feel 00:20:01.259 --> 00:20:01.900 God has 00:20:01.900 --> 00:20:02.920 abandoned you. 00:20:03.600 --> 00:20:03.940 He's not 00:20:03.940 --> 00:20:04.460 given you 00:20:04.460 --> 00:20:05.279 the longings 00:20:05.279 --> 00:20:06.140 of your heart. 00:20:09.539 --> 00:20:10.779 By faith 00:20:10.779 --> 00:20:12.440 you can see 00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:13.640 God's promise 00:20:13.640 --> 00:20:15.100 of brothers 00:20:15.100 --> 00:20:15.980 and sisters 00:20:15.980 --> 00:20:17.500 and sons 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:18.480 and daughters 00:20:18.480 --> 00:20:19.839 in his 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:20.599 family, 00:20:20.759 --> 00:20:21.779 even if they 00:20:21.779 --> 00:20:22.740 don't come 00:20:22.740 --> 00:20:23.759 for a while 00:20:23.759 --> 00:20:24.839 in your 00:20:24.839 --> 00:20:25.619 lifetime 00:20:25.619 --> 00:20:26.299 even. 00:20:27.619 --> 00:20:27.880 See, 00:20:28.019 --> 00:20:28.680 faith is not 00:20:28.680 --> 00:20:29.859 a magic wand 00:20:29.859 --> 00:20:30.819 to make your 00:20:30.819 --> 00:20:31.640 life better 00:20:31.640 --> 00:20:32.460 in the way 00:20:32.460 --> 00:20:33.059 and time 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:33.720 you please. 00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:34.279 No, 00:20:34.500 --> 00:20:35.160 it is a 00:20:35.160 --> 00:20:36.579 confident trust 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.779 in the God 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:38.920 who will make 00:20:38.920 --> 00:20:39.920 your life 00:20:39.920 --> 00:20:40.660 best 00:20:40.660 --> 00:20:41.660 in the way 00:20:41.660 --> 00:20:42.299 and time 00:20:42.299 --> 00:20:43.200 he pleases. 00:20:43.680 --> 00:20:44.880 That's faith. 00:20:44.880 --> 00:20:45.600 Whether you 00:20:45.600 --> 00:20:46.460 see it today 00:20:46.460 --> 00:20:46.960 or not, 00:20:47.300 --> 00:20:48.280 trust him. 00:20:48.660 --> 00:20:49.100 God is 00:20:49.100 --> 00:20:49.960 keeping his 00:20:49.960 --> 00:20:50.840 promise to 00:20:50.840 --> 00:20:51.020 you. 00:20:51.060 --> 00:20:51.680 He is. 00:20:52.100 --> 00:20:52.720 It's who he 00:20:52.720 --> 00:20:53.040 is. 00:20:53.460 --> 00:20:54.200 He's faithful. 00:20:54.360 --> 00:20:54.940 You can count 00:20:54.940 --> 00:20:55.300 on it. 00:20:56.320 --> 00:20:56.840 It's actually 00:20:56.840 --> 00:20:57.360 what Moses 00:20:57.360 --> 00:20:57.940 is counting 00:20:57.940 --> 00:20:58.300 on. 00:20:59.380 --> 00:21:00.120 When it 00:21:00.120 --> 00:21:00.660 says verse 00:21:00.660 --> 00:21:01.620 26, 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.180 he was 00:21:03.180 --> 00:21:03.620 looking 00:21:03.620 --> 00:21:05.100 to the 00:21:05.100 --> 00:21:05.680 reward. 00:21:07.900 --> 00:21:08.720 That means 00:21:08.720 --> 00:21:09.680 something beyond 00:21:09.680 --> 00:21:10.540 this life, 00:21:10.860 --> 00:21:11.300 doesn't it? 00:21:11.299 --> 00:21:13.379 If only 00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:14.139 for this 00:21:14.139 --> 00:21:14.639 life, 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:15.980 we have 00:21:15.980 --> 00:21:16.500 hope in 00:21:16.500 --> 00:21:17.059 Christ. 00:21:18.480 --> 00:21:18.680 Y'all, 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.460 just listen 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:20.299 to what 00:21:20.299 --> 00:21:20.980 God's people 00:21:20.980 --> 00:21:21.480 endure 00:21:21.480 --> 00:21:22.359 starting at 00:21:22.359 --> 00:21:23.339 verse 32. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:23.919 It sounds 00:21:23.919 --> 00:21:24.419 good at 00:21:24.419 --> 00:21:24.899 first. 00:21:25.779 --> 00:21:26.119 What more 00:21:26.119 --> 00:21:26.899 shall I say 00:21:26.899 --> 00:21:27.500 for time 00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.039 would fail 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:28.779 me to tell 00:21:28.779 --> 00:21:29.379 of Gideon, 00:21:29.740 --> 00:21:30.180 Barak, 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:31.279 Samson, 00:21:31.659 --> 00:21:32.119 Jephthah, 00:21:32.619 --> 00:21:33.200 of David 00:21:33.200 --> 00:21:33.899 and Samuel 00:21:33.899 --> 00:21:34.240 and the 00:21:34.240 --> 00:21:34.659 prophets, 00:21:35.399 --> 00:21:35.859 who through 00:21:35.859 --> 00:21:36.480 faith conquered 00:21:36.480 --> 00:21:36.940 kingdoms 00:21:36.940 --> 00:21:37.480 and forced 00:21:37.480 --> 00:21:38.019 justice, 00:21:38.180 --> 00:21:38.500 obtained 00:21:38.500 --> 00:21:39.119 promises, 00:21:39.339 --> 00:21:39.779 stopped the 00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.279 mouths of 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:40.740 lions, 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:41.680 quenched 00:21:41.680 --> 00:21:42.220 the power 00:21:42.220 --> 00:21:42.819 of fire, 00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:43.500 escaped the 00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:43.819 edge of 00:21:43.819 --> 00:21:44.319 the sword, 00:21:44.440 --> 00:21:44.720 were made 00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.299 strong out 00:21:45.299 --> 00:21:45.799 of weakness, 00:21:46.140 --> 00:21:46.819 became mighty 00:21:46.819 --> 00:21:47.220 in war, 00:21:47.319 --> 00:21:47.880 put foreign 00:21:47.880 --> 00:21:48.500 armies to 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:48.799 flight. 00:21:49.279 --> 00:21:49.480 Women 00:21:49.480 --> 00:21:50.299 received back 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:50.740 their dead 00:21:50.740 --> 00:21:51.620 by resurrection. 00:21:54.660 --> 00:21:55.259 Some 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:57.400 were tortured, 00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.180 refusing to 00:22:00.180 --> 00:22:01.120 accept release 00:22:01.120 --> 00:22:01.720 so that they 00:22:01.720 --> 00:22:02.259 might rise 00:22:02.259 --> 00:22:02.859 again to a 00:22:02.859 --> 00:22:03.500 better life. 00:22:03.859 --> 00:22:04.099 Others 00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:04.599 suffered 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:05.140 mocking 00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:06.420 and flogging 00:22:06.420 --> 00:22:07.180 and even 00:22:07.180 --> 00:22:07.819 chains 00:22:07.819 --> 00:22:09.079 and imprisonment. 00:22:09.839 --> 00:22:10.120 They were 00:22:10.119 --> 00:22:10.779 stoned. 00:22:11.699 --> 00:22:12.419 They were 00:22:12.419 --> 00:22:12.939 sawn in 00:22:12.939 --> 00:22:13.279 two. 00:22:14.579 --> 00:22:15.199 They were 00:22:15.199 --> 00:22:15.719 killed with 00:22:15.719 --> 00:22:16.379 the sword. 00:22:17.619 --> 00:22:17.959 They went 00:22:17.959 --> 00:22:18.459 about in 00:22:18.459 --> 00:22:19.179 skins of 00:22:19.179 --> 00:22:19.779 sheep and 00:22:19.779 --> 00:22:20.119 goats, 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.179 destitute, 00:22:21.519 --> 00:22:22.259 afflicted, 00:22:22.619 --> 00:22:23.299 mistreated, 00:22:23.559 --> 00:22:23.359 ! 00:22:23.359 --> 00:22:24.259 of whom the 00:22:24.259 --> 00:22:24.759 world was 00:22:24.759 --> 00:22:25.519 not worthy, 00:22:25.839 --> 00:22:26.239 wandering 00:22:26.239 --> 00:22:26.839 about in 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:27.559 deserts and 00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:28.279 mountains and 00:22:28.279 --> 00:22:29.000 in dens and 00:22:29.000 --> 00:22:29.759 caves of the 00:22:29.759 --> 00:22:30.039 earth. 00:22:30.379 --> 00:22:31.039 And all 00:22:31.039 --> 00:22:31.539 these, 00:22:31.899 --> 00:22:32.639 though commended 00:22:32.639 --> 00:22:33.219 through their 00:22:33.219 --> 00:22:33.859 faith, 00:22:34.859 --> 00:22:36.699 did not receive 00:22:36.700 --> 00:22:37.080 what was 00:22:37.080 --> 00:22:37.779 promised. 00:22:39.120 --> 00:22:40.400 They didn't 00:22:40.400 --> 00:22:41.620 receive yet 00:22:41.620 --> 00:22:42.740 what was 00:22:42.740 --> 00:22:43.460 promised. 00:22:44.960 --> 00:22:46.259 After all 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:47.140 those things, 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:49.400 key line, 00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:50.779 verse 38, 00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:52.900 of whom 00:22:52.900 --> 00:22:53.920 the world 00:22:53.920 --> 00:22:55.200 was not 00:22:55.200 --> 00:22:55.759 worthy. 00:22:57.980 --> 00:22:58.880 It means 00:22:58.880 --> 00:22:59.279 that there 00:22:59.279 --> 00:23:00.400 was no way 00:23:00.400 --> 00:23:00.860 that the 00:23:00.860 --> 00:23:02.160 world could 00:23:02.160 --> 00:23:03.420 satisfy them. 00:23:03.420 --> 00:23:05.880 they suffered 00:23:05.880 --> 00:23:07.420 deeply here. 00:23:07.900 --> 00:23:08.560 He's honest 00:23:08.560 --> 00:23:09.220 about that. 00:23:09.500 --> 00:23:09.920 They were 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:10.900 made for 00:23:10.900 --> 00:23:12.060 something beyond 00:23:12.060 --> 00:23:13.420 this life. 00:23:13.720 --> 00:23:14.560 Their faith 00:23:14.560 --> 00:23:16.200 saw something 00:23:16.200 --> 00:23:17.080 else, even if 00:23:17.080 --> 00:23:17.820 they never got 00:23:17.820 --> 00:23:18.279 to have it 00:23:18.279 --> 00:23:18.680 here. 00:23:19.720 --> 00:23:20.039 It saw 00:23:20.039 --> 00:23:21.220 God's place. 00:23:22.920 --> 00:23:23.560 It's a theme 00:23:23.560 --> 00:23:24.200 throughout this 00:23:24.200 --> 00:23:24.560 chapter. 00:23:25.759 --> 00:23:26.480 Just as God 00:23:26.480 --> 00:23:27.340 said to Noah, 00:23:27.539 --> 00:23:28.620 verse 7, 00:23:29.120 --> 00:23:30.019 build an ark 00:23:30.019 --> 00:23:30.920 when you've 00:23:30.920 --> 00:23:31.740 never seen a 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:32.120 flood. 00:23:32.700 --> 00:23:33.200 Boy, that's 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.440 weird. 00:23:35.259 --> 00:23:35.900 God also 00:23:35.900 --> 00:23:36.299 said to 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:37.039 Abraham, who 00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:38.019 was comfortable 00:23:38.019 --> 00:23:39.220 and successful, 00:23:39.340 --> 00:23:39.880 he was very 00:23:39.880 --> 00:23:40.940 prosperous at 00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.819 home in his 00:23:41.819 --> 00:23:42.440 own land, 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.220 verse 8, 00:23:43.400 --> 00:23:44.100 go out to 00:23:44.100 --> 00:23:44.819 the promised 00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.720 land I'm 00:23:45.720 --> 00:23:46.180 going to 00:23:46.180 --> 00:23:46.720 give you. 00:23:46.980 --> 00:23:47.480 And Abraham 00:23:47.480 --> 00:23:47.920 said, 00:23:48.080 --> 00:23:48.420 where? 00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:50.279 Never seen 00:23:50.279 --> 00:23:50.620 it. 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:52.660 Can't look it 00:23:52.660 --> 00:23:53.620 up online to 00:23:53.620 --> 00:23:54.120 see if I'll 00:23:54.120 --> 00:23:54.799 like it. 00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:58.000 And then 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:58.519 much of the 00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:58.860 rest of 00:23:58.860 --> 00:23:59.420 Abraham's 00:23:59.420 --> 00:24:00.740 life was 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.160 spent 00:24:01.160 --> 00:24:02.360 journeying 00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:03.859 living. 00:24:03.859 --> 00:24:04.159 Living where? 00:24:05.159 --> 00:24:06.000 Intense. 00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:07.779 Why? 00:24:08.859 --> 00:24:09.539 What was 00:24:09.539 --> 00:24:10.459 his reward? 00:24:11.119 --> 00:24:11.859 Was it the 00:24:11.859 --> 00:24:12.500 dirt of 00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.219 Canaan that 00:24:13.219 --> 00:24:13.439 he would 00:24:13.439 --> 00:24:14.479 finally get 00:24:14.479 --> 00:24:15.000 there? 00:24:15.500 --> 00:24:16.139 No. 00:24:16.579 --> 00:24:17.279 Verse 10, 00:24:17.919 --> 00:24:18.279 he was 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:19.379 looking forward 00:24:19.379 --> 00:24:20.759 to the city 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:22.419 with foundations 00:24:22.419 --> 00:24:24.159 designed and 00:24:24.159 --> 00:24:25.119 built by 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:26.079 God. 00:24:26.419 --> 00:24:27.059 Back to 00:24:27.059 --> 00:24:28.359 verse 13. 00:24:28.359 --> 00:24:30.539 they were 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.199 strangers 00:24:31.199 --> 00:24:32.779 and exiles 00:24:32.779 --> 00:24:34.199 on the 00:24:34.199 --> 00:24:34.500 earth. 00:24:34.500 --> 00:24:35.199 For people 00:24:35.199 --> 00:24:35.759 who speak 00:24:35.759 --> 00:24:36.359 thus make 00:24:36.359 --> 00:24:36.779 it clear 00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.219 that they're 00:24:37.219 --> 00:24:38.019 seeking a 00:24:38.019 --> 00:24:38.379 homeland. 00:24:38.939 --> 00:24:39.419 If they'd 00:24:39.419 --> 00:24:39.819 been thinking 00:24:39.819 --> 00:24:40.179 of that 00:24:40.179 --> 00:24:40.659 land from 00:24:40.659 --> 00:24:41.039 which they'd 00:24:41.039 --> 00:24:41.439 gone out, 00:24:41.579 --> 00:24:41.939 they would 00:24:41.939 --> 00:24:42.219 have had 00:24:42.219 --> 00:24:42.699 opportunity 00:24:42.699 --> 00:24:43.500 to return. 00:24:43.919 --> 00:24:44.299 But as 00:24:44.299 --> 00:24:44.859 it is, 00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:45.799 they desire 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:46.819 a better 00:24:46.819 --> 00:24:48.559 country that 00:24:48.559 --> 00:24:48.859 is a 00:24:48.859 --> 00:24:49.240 heavenly 00:24:49.240 --> 00:24:49.939 one. 00:24:50.779 --> 00:24:51.119 Therefore, 00:24:51.339 --> 00:24:51.879 God is not 00:24:51.879 --> 00:24:52.740 ashamed to 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.179 be called 00:24:53.179 --> 00:24:53.859 their God 00:24:53.859 --> 00:24:54.959 for he has 00:24:54.959 --> 00:24:55.819 prepared for 00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:57.599 them a 00:24:57.599 --> 00:24:57.979 city. 00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:00.779 Listen, 00:25:00.919 --> 00:25:01.519 God's got a 00:25:01.519 --> 00:25:02.819 place for 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:04.500 you, a 00:25:04.500 --> 00:25:05.639 country, a 00:25:05.639 --> 00:25:07.359 city, and 00:25:07.359 --> 00:25:08.000 it's not even 00:25:08.000 --> 00:25:09.479 Auburn or 00:25:09.479 --> 00:25:10.199 Tuscaloosa. 00:25:12.079 --> 00:25:13.219 Of all of 00:25:13.219 --> 00:25:13.959 his promises 00:25:13.959 --> 00:25:16.379 that you can 00:25:16.379 --> 00:25:17.639 count on 00:25:17.639 --> 00:25:19.639 for you, 00:25:19.879 --> 00:25:20.339 don't miss 00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:20.779 this one. 00:25:21.339 --> 00:25:22.419 He's made 00:25:22.420 --> 00:25:23.560 a place 00:25:23.560 --> 00:25:24.680 for you 00:25:24.680 --> 00:25:25.960 forever 00:25:25.960 --> 00:25:27.680 with him 00:25:27.680 --> 00:25:28.740 so that 00:25:28.740 --> 00:25:29.480 even if you 00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.519 live in a 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.600 tent now, 00:25:31.900 --> 00:25:32.560 you will 00:25:32.560 --> 00:25:33.600 reign with 00:25:33.600 --> 00:25:34.060 him 00:25:34.060 --> 00:25:35.480 forever. 00:25:36.200 --> 00:25:36.660 So that 00:25:36.660 --> 00:25:37.240 even if you 00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:37.840 don't make 00:25:37.840 --> 00:25:38.840 any money 00:25:38.840 --> 00:25:39.720 in this 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:40.259 life, 00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:40.960 you will 00:25:40.960 --> 00:25:41.880 walk on 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:42.700 streets of 00:25:42.700 --> 00:25:43.279 gold 00:25:43.279 --> 00:25:44.360 forever. 00:25:45.779 --> 00:25:46.279 So that 00:25:46.279 --> 00:25:46.840 even if you 00:25:46.840 --> 00:25:47.580 cry 00:25:47.580 --> 00:25:49.400 and suffer 00:25:49.400 --> 00:25:51.200 and die 00:25:51.200 --> 00:25:51.779 before you 00:25:51.779 --> 00:25:52.139 get to 00:25:52.139 --> 00:25:52.700 enjoy the 00:25:52.700 --> 00:25:53.619 best years 00:25:53.619 --> 00:25:54.399 of your 00:25:54.399 --> 00:25:55.000 life, 00:25:55.119 --> 00:25:55.680 you will 00:25:55.680 --> 00:25:56.879 live and 00:25:56.879 --> 00:25:58.059 laugh and 00:25:58.059 --> 00:25:59.899 love forever. 00:26:00.619 --> 00:26:01.779 The best is 00:26:01.779 --> 00:26:03.180 always yet to 00:26:03.180 --> 00:26:03.799 come. 00:26:04.099 --> 00:26:04.599 See, this 00:26:04.599 --> 00:26:06.000 world is not 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:07.019 worthy of you, 00:26:07.119 --> 00:26:08.000 but the next 00:26:08.000 --> 00:26:09.559 one will be. 00:26:09.980 --> 00:26:10.779 It will 00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:12.639 delight and 00:26:12.639 --> 00:26:13.920 satisfy you 00:26:13.920 --> 00:26:15.440 forever in a 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:16.920 way that you've 00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:18.039 only tasted a 00:26:18.039 --> 00:26:19.819 sample of what it's 00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:20.339 going to feel 00:26:20.339 --> 00:26:20.939 like to be 00:26:20.939 --> 00:26:22.119 full on the 00:26:22.119 --> 00:26:23.339 glories of 00:26:23.339 --> 00:26:24.399 God forever. 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.419 That's your 00:26:25.419 --> 00:26:27.139 reward, a city 00:26:27.139 --> 00:26:28.419 prepared for 00:26:28.419 --> 00:26:29.359 you by the 00:26:29.359 --> 00:26:30.099 one who's not 00:26:30.099 --> 00:26:31.339 ashamed to be 00:26:31.339 --> 00:26:31.799 your God. 00:26:31.859 --> 00:26:32.379 He's actually 00:26:32.379 --> 00:26:33.439 eager to be 00:26:33.439 --> 00:26:34.399 seen there 00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:35.299 with you 00:26:35.299 --> 00:26:36.919 every day. 00:26:37.079 --> 00:26:37.740 Can you not 00:26:37.740 --> 00:26:38.799 wait for that? 00:26:39.220 --> 00:26:40.319 You are there 00:26:40.319 --> 00:26:41.500 with God and 00:26:41.500 --> 00:26:42.539 he's delighting 00:26:42.539 --> 00:26:42.980 in you. 00:26:43.059 --> 00:26:44.099 What a reward 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:45.419 he is. 00:26:46.319 --> 00:26:47.460 I can trust 00:26:47.460 --> 00:26:48.279 him for that 00:26:48.279 --> 00:26:48.620 no matter 00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:49.559 what else. 00:26:52.740 --> 00:26:53.440 I heard 00:26:53.440 --> 00:26:54.200 stories this 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:54.640 week of 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.100 Iranian 00:26:55.100 --> 00:26:56.500 Christians who 00:26:56.500 --> 00:26:57.079 could be in 00:26:57.079 --> 00:26:58.079 Hebrews 11 as 00:26:58.079 --> 00:26:58.620 far as I'm 00:26:58.620 --> 00:26:59.039 concerned. 00:27:01.140 --> 00:27:01.900 Especially in 00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:03.279 the last few 00:27:03.279 --> 00:27:04.319 weeks, you 00:27:04.319 --> 00:27:04.700 want to talk 00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:05.100 about not 00:27:05.100 --> 00:27:05.700 seeing what's 00:27:05.700 --> 00:27:06.039 ahead? 00:27:07.819 --> 00:27:08.579 If they 00:27:08.579 --> 00:27:09.079 avoid the 00:27:09.079 --> 00:27:09.779 bombs around 00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:10.100 them, 00:27:11.299 --> 00:27:12.039 increasingly 00:27:12.039 --> 00:27:13.500 they might 00:27:13.500 --> 00:27:14.100 get arrested, 00:27:15.579 --> 00:27:15.880 beaten, 00:27:16.420 --> 00:27:17.180 even killed, 00:27:17.460 --> 00:27:18.660 for their 00:27:18.660 --> 00:27:19.100 faith. 00:27:20.200 --> 00:27:20.680 It's one of 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.559 several countries 00:27:21.559 --> 00:27:22.480 these days where 00:27:22.480 --> 00:27:23.519 Christians really 00:27:23.519 --> 00:27:25.079 every day have 00:27:25.079 --> 00:27:25.799 to ask, 00:27:26.220 --> 00:27:27.740 is Jesus 00:27:27.740 --> 00:27:28.360 worth it? 00:27:30.000 --> 00:27:30.640 And you know 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:31.180 what's happening 00:27:31.180 --> 00:27:31.579 in Iran? 00:27:32.340 --> 00:27:33.920 The church is 00:27:33.920 --> 00:27:36.180 growing like 00:27:36.180 --> 00:27:36.880 crazy. 00:27:38.519 --> 00:27:39.360 See, faith 00:27:39.360 --> 00:27:41.500 sees God 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:43.279 and the place 00:27:43.279 --> 00:27:44.140 that he has 00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:45.480 prepared for 00:27:45.480 --> 00:27:46.279 those who love 00:27:46.279 --> 00:27:47.220 him even 00:27:47.220 --> 00:27:47.680 if this 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:49.039 one seems 00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:49.319 to be 00:27:49.319 --> 00:27:49.759 going away 00:27:49.759 --> 00:27:50.240 fast. 00:27:53.240 --> 00:27:53.980 Maybe most 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:54.399 of you don't 00:27:54.399 --> 00:27:54.980 live in Iran. 00:27:56.619 --> 00:27:57.399 I also 00:27:57.399 --> 00:27:58.139 sat with our 00:27:58.139 --> 00:27:59.019 brother Jim 00:27:59.019 --> 00:27:59.740 Harris this 00:27:59.740 --> 00:28:00.059 week. 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:03.859 He so 00:28:03.859 --> 00:28:04.680 encouraged my 00:28:04.680 --> 00:28:06.160 heart as he 00:28:06.160 --> 00:28:07.139 described his 00:28:07.139 --> 00:28:08.000 struggle with 00:28:08.000 --> 00:28:08.460 cancer. 00:28:08.980 --> 00:28:09.559 He said he's 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:10.740 been fighting the 00:28:10.740 --> 00:28:11.740 cancer because it's 00:28:11.740 --> 00:28:14.039 bad, it hurts, 00:28:14.039 --> 00:28:16.700 but Jim's not 00:28:16.700 --> 00:28:17.519 desperately 00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.500 fighting for 00:28:18.500 --> 00:28:19.240 his life. 00:28:20.299 --> 00:28:20.539 No. 00:28:21.259 --> 00:28:22.759 His life 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:25.159 cancer can't 00:28:25.159 --> 00:28:25.740 take away. 00:28:26.700 --> 00:28:28.099 His life is 00:28:28.099 --> 00:28:29.240 hidden with 00:28:29.240 --> 00:28:30.599 Christ in 00:28:30.599 --> 00:28:31.379 God, 00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.299 his Savior 00:28:32.299 --> 00:28:33.259 who's gone 00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.379 to prepare a 00:28:34.379 --> 00:28:35.359 place for 00:28:35.359 --> 00:28:36.399 him, even if 00:28:36.399 --> 00:28:37.099 he doesn't know 00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:38.039 when he gets 00:28:38.039 --> 00:28:38.819 to be there. 00:28:38.960 --> 00:28:39.899 He doesn't see 00:28:39.899 --> 00:28:40.759 what tomorrow 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:41.359 holds. 00:28:41.359 --> 00:28:42.039 He doesn't 00:28:42.039 --> 00:28:42.819 know his 00:28:42.819 --> 00:28:43.979 days, but he 00:28:43.979 --> 00:28:45.219 sees God and 00:28:45.219 --> 00:28:46.479 his promise and 00:28:46.479 --> 00:28:48.099 his hope forever. 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:50.079 He has a 00:28:50.079 --> 00:28:50.699 place. 00:28:53.779 --> 00:28:54.379 Graduates, 00:28:55.500 --> 00:28:57.419 is Jesus 00:28:57.419 --> 00:28:58.079 worth it? 00:28:59.379 --> 00:28:59.979 You're going to 00:28:59.979 --> 00:29:00.559 have to answer 00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:01.299 that question 00:29:01.299 --> 00:29:03.399 many times in 00:29:03.399 --> 00:29:04.059 the days ahead, 00:29:04.179 --> 00:29:04.959 some small 00:29:04.959 --> 00:29:06.359 moments, some 00:29:06.359 --> 00:29:07.000 big moments. 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:08.819 all of us 00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:10.220 have to answer 00:29:10.220 --> 00:29:10.900 that question. 00:29:12.440 --> 00:29:13.279 Maybe this is a 00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:14.079 reminder that 00:29:14.079 --> 00:29:15.660 none of us 00:29:15.660 --> 00:29:16.319 sees what 00:29:16.319 --> 00:29:17.299 tomorrow holds 00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:18.319 for us here. 00:29:19.099 --> 00:29:20.099 All of us, 00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:20.680 as a result, 00:29:20.799 --> 00:29:21.720 face uncertain 00:29:21.720 --> 00:29:23.079 futures, new 00:29:23.079 --> 00:29:24.660 relationships, new 00:29:24.660 --> 00:29:25.599 seasons of life 00:29:25.599 --> 00:29:26.019 that we don't 00:29:26.019 --> 00:29:26.519 know how to 00:29:26.519 --> 00:29:26.920 handle. 00:29:28.480 --> 00:29:29.380 Will we walk 00:29:29.380 --> 00:29:30.319 by faith 00:29:30.319 --> 00:29:31.500 today or 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:33.019 tomorrow because 00:29:33.019 --> 00:29:34.319 Jesus is worth 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:34.539 it? 00:29:34.539 --> 00:29:36.480 will we just 00:29:36.480 --> 00:29:37.460 default to what 00:29:37.460 --> 00:29:38.039 we see? 00:29:38.680 --> 00:29:39.420 It's what we 00:29:39.420 --> 00:29:39.659 know. 00:29:39.759 --> 00:29:40.240 It's what we're 00:29:40.240 --> 00:29:41.079 safe and 00:29:41.079 --> 00:29:42.180 comfortable with. 00:29:42.259 --> 00:29:42.680 It's what we 00:29:42.680 --> 00:29:43.339 think we can 00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:43.980 control. 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:44.819 Is that what 00:29:44.819 --> 00:29:46.039 we'll lean 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:46.680 back into? 00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:49.440 God's telling 00:29:49.440 --> 00:29:50.139 you today, if 00:29:50.139 --> 00:29:50.920 you want a firm 00:29:50.920 --> 00:29:53.200 foundation, it's 00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:54.779 him, his 00:29:54.779 --> 00:29:56.339 promises, his 00:29:56.339 --> 00:29:56.940 place. 00:29:56.940 --> 00:29:57.000 grace. 00:30:00.000 --> 00:30:00.880 See, if you 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:01.480 don't know this 00:30:01.480 --> 00:30:03.720 yet, every 00:30:03.720 --> 00:30:04.400 single one of 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:05.480 us will face a 00:30:05.480 --> 00:30:06.880 day when our 00:30:06.880 --> 00:30:09.460 next step, our 00:30:09.460 --> 00:30:11.500 eternity beyond 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:13.400 this life is 00:30:13.400 --> 00:30:14.320 unseen. 00:30:16.380 --> 00:30:17.720 And that next 00:30:17.720 --> 00:30:18.740 step is based 00:30:18.740 --> 00:30:19.799 not on what 00:30:19.799 --> 00:30:20.680 college we 00:30:20.680 --> 00:30:21.680 attended, doesn't 00:30:21.680 --> 00:30:21.940 help. 00:30:22.580 --> 00:30:23.400 Not even your 00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:25.120 ACT score helps. 00:30:25.420 --> 00:30:26.019 Unbelievable. 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:28.660 It's not based 00:30:28.660 --> 00:30:29.119 on the amount 00:30:29.119 --> 00:30:30.579 of money that 00:30:30.579 --> 00:30:31.119 you've made. 00:30:31.299 --> 00:30:31.940 It's not based 00:30:31.940 --> 00:30:32.559 on the family 00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:33.240 you've started, 00:30:33.680 --> 00:30:34.400 the beaches 00:30:34.400 --> 00:30:35.319 you've visited, 00:30:35.599 --> 00:30:36.339 the professional 00:30:36.339 --> 00:30:37.240 awards you've 00:30:37.240 --> 00:30:37.819 received. 00:30:38.500 --> 00:30:38.960 They don't 00:30:38.960 --> 00:30:39.759 count. 00:30:40.039 --> 00:30:40.859 In fact, none 00:30:40.859 --> 00:30:41.639 of them will 00:30:41.639 --> 00:30:42.859 catch you when 00:30:42.859 --> 00:30:43.559 you're falling 00:30:43.559 --> 00:30:44.339 over the edge 00:30:44.339 --> 00:30:45.119 on that day. 00:30:45.400 --> 00:30:46.099 None of them. 00:30:46.480 --> 00:30:47.099 You don't get 00:30:47.099 --> 00:30:48.019 points for any 00:30:48.019 --> 00:30:48.700 of those things 00:30:48.700 --> 00:30:49.180 that you can 00:30:49.180 --> 00:30:49.639 see. 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:52.099 That would be 00:30:52.099 --> 00:30:53.160 living by sight, 00:30:54.319 --> 00:30:55.639 living by faith, 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.579 says what 00:30:56.579 --> 00:30:57.180 matters on 00:30:57.180 --> 00:30:58.480 that day is 00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.180 did you trust 00:30:59.180 --> 00:30:59.879 God? 00:31:00.440 --> 00:31:00.799 Did you put 00:31:00.799 --> 00:31:01.279 your hope in 00:31:01.279 --> 00:31:02.119 His promises? 00:31:02.480 --> 00:31:02.940 Did you rest 00:31:02.940 --> 00:31:04.200 in His place? 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:05.539 Can He come 00:31:05.539 --> 00:31:05.940 through? 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.440 It's the 00:31:08.440 --> 00:31:09.119 better way, 00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:10.160 friend. 00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:11.139 It is. 00:31:11.140 --> 00:31:12.140 God. 00:31:12.140 --> 00:31:16.340 I hope you're 00:31:16.340 --> 00:31:17.860 still just a 00:31:17.860 --> 00:31:18.200 little bit 00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:20.080 unsettled at 00:31:20.080 --> 00:31:20.460 all these 00:31:20.460 --> 00:31:21.080 people who 00:31:21.080 --> 00:31:22.259 sacrificed for 00:31:22.259 --> 00:31:24.060 God and 00:31:24.060 --> 00:31:24.800 then died 00:31:24.800 --> 00:31:25.900 without getting 00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:26.600 what they were 00:31:26.600 --> 00:31:27.240 promised. 00:31:27.520 --> 00:31:28.060 Like, what kind 00:31:28.060 --> 00:31:28.780 of advertisement 00:31:28.780 --> 00:31:29.360 is that? 00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:30.020 God, come 00:31:30.020 --> 00:31:30.500 on. 00:31:32.100 --> 00:31:32.960 He finally 00:31:32.960 --> 00:31:33.840 tells us why 00:31:33.840 --> 00:31:35.160 in the last 00:31:35.160 --> 00:31:35.660 verse of the 00:31:35.660 --> 00:31:35.980 chapter. 00:31:35.980 --> 00:31:40.839 Since God 00:31:40.839 --> 00:31:41.640 had provided 00:31:41.640 --> 00:31:43.640 something better 00:31:43.640 --> 00:31:44.819 for us, 00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:47.140 that apart 00:31:47.140 --> 00:31:47.819 from us, 00:31:47.920 --> 00:31:48.380 they should 00:31:48.380 --> 00:31:49.240 not be made 00:31:49.240 --> 00:31:49.779 perfect. 00:31:52.420 --> 00:31:53.220 This is the 00:31:53.220 --> 00:31:53.680 last thing. 00:31:55.160 --> 00:31:55.759 Something 00:31:55.759 --> 00:31:56.240 better. 00:31:58.620 --> 00:31:59.220 Southwood, 00:31:59.680 --> 00:32:00.640 please don't 00:32:00.640 --> 00:32:01.019 get this 00:32:01.019 --> 00:32:01.720 question wrong. 00:32:01.819 --> 00:32:02.640 I will cry 00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:03.299 all day. 00:32:03.299 --> 00:32:05.519 in Hebrews, 00:32:06.419 --> 00:32:07.480 who or what 00:32:07.480 --> 00:32:08.799 is something 00:32:08.799 --> 00:32:09.480 better? 00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:12.460 Thank you. 00:32:13.240 --> 00:32:13.839 Jesus. 00:32:15.799 --> 00:32:16.839 When you read 00:32:16.839 --> 00:32:17.460 something better 00:32:17.460 --> 00:32:18.220 in Hebrews, 00:32:18.559 --> 00:32:19.500 it's talking 00:32:19.500 --> 00:32:21.119 about Jesus. 00:32:22.200 --> 00:32:23.240 Jesus coming. 00:32:23.379 --> 00:32:23.899 He is the 00:32:23.899 --> 00:32:25.399 better access, 00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:26.339 the better 00:32:26.339 --> 00:32:27.259 relationship 00:32:27.259 --> 00:32:27.960 with God, 00:32:28.299 --> 00:32:28.779 the better 00:32:28.779 --> 00:32:29.819 sacrifice, 00:32:30.200 --> 00:32:30.559 the better 00:32:30.559 --> 00:32:31.419 priest. 00:32:31.919 --> 00:32:32.240 Here, the 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:33.079 better city, 00:32:33.079 --> 00:32:33.559 the better 00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:34.779 country. 00:32:35.980 --> 00:32:36.919 All of that, 00:32:37.119 --> 00:32:37.779 listen, living 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:38.720 by faith is 00:32:38.720 --> 00:32:39.139 not as 00:32:39.139 --> 00:32:40.579 complicated as 00:32:40.579 --> 00:32:40.960 I may have 00:32:40.960 --> 00:32:41.720 made it sound 00:32:41.720 --> 00:32:42.299 this morning. 00:32:42.519 --> 00:32:43.720 It really is 00:32:43.720 --> 00:32:44.599 as simple 00:32:44.599 --> 00:32:46.019 as seeing 00:32:46.019 --> 00:32:47.539 Jesus. 00:32:48.399 --> 00:32:49.319 It boils 00:32:49.319 --> 00:32:50.079 down to that. 00:32:50.579 --> 00:32:51.259 Yes, we can 00:32:51.259 --> 00:32:51.960 see the person 00:32:51.960 --> 00:32:52.539 of God in 00:32:52.539 --> 00:32:53.919 creation and 00:32:53.919 --> 00:32:55.019 in his word, 00:32:55.199 --> 00:32:55.659 but we 00:32:55.659 --> 00:32:56.879 especially and 00:32:56.879 --> 00:32:57.839 most brilliantly 00:32:57.839 --> 00:32:58.960 see the glory 00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:00.039 of God made 00:33:00.039 --> 00:33:01.019 flesh in the 00:33:01.019 --> 00:33:02.039 face of Jesus 00:33:02.039 --> 00:33:02.799 Christ. 00:33:02.799 --> 00:33:03.359 and we 00:33:03.359 --> 00:33:04.159 know he 00:33:04.159 --> 00:33:05.440 exists and 00:33:05.440 --> 00:33:06.059 we know that 00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:06.579 because he's 00:33:06.579 --> 00:33:07.319 come, he wants 00:33:07.319 --> 00:33:07.940 us to know 00:33:07.940 --> 00:33:09.319 him personally. 00:33:11.319 --> 00:33:12.460 The promises 00:33:12.460 --> 00:33:13.119 of God 00:33:13.119 --> 00:33:13.700 through the 00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:14.299 shadows of the 00:33:14.299 --> 00:33:14.960 Old Testament, 00:33:15.319 --> 00:33:15.639 what's he 00:33:15.639 --> 00:33:16.119 promising? 00:33:16.559 --> 00:33:17.659 Forgiveness and 00:33:17.659 --> 00:33:18.240 cleansing, 00:33:18.680 --> 00:33:19.460 deliverance from 00:33:19.460 --> 00:33:20.259 bondage into 00:33:20.259 --> 00:33:21.079 relationship, 00:33:21.519 --> 00:33:22.500 a land for 00:33:22.500 --> 00:33:23.319 security. 00:33:23.960 --> 00:33:24.899 All of those 00:33:24.899 --> 00:33:25.680 promises are 00:33:25.680 --> 00:33:26.419 yes and 00:33:26.419 --> 00:33:27.279 amen in 00:33:27.279 --> 00:33:28.200 Jesus through 00:33:28.200 --> 00:33:29.159 his life and 00:33:29.159 --> 00:33:29.960 his death and 00:33:29.960 --> 00:33:30.659 his resurrection 00:33:30.660 --> 00:33:31.380 life. 00:33:33.120 --> 00:33:33.759 And your 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:34.640 confidence in 00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:35.880 God's place, 00:33:36.279 --> 00:33:36.860 though you 00:33:36.860 --> 00:33:37.500 have never 00:33:37.500 --> 00:33:38.340 seen it, 00:33:39.080 --> 00:33:40.080 is in Jesus 00:33:40.080 --> 00:33:40.840 as well. 00:33:41.560 --> 00:33:42.440 Because he 00:33:42.440 --> 00:33:44.000 brings us to 00:33:44.000 --> 00:33:45.220 the city where 00:33:45.220 --> 00:33:46.040 he has already 00:33:46.040 --> 00:33:47.480 gone to prepare 00:33:47.480 --> 00:33:48.940 a place for 00:33:48.940 --> 00:33:49.779 us where he 00:33:49.779 --> 00:33:50.460 is the lamp 00:33:50.460 --> 00:33:51.340 and the light 00:33:51.340 --> 00:33:52.300 of that city 00:33:52.300 --> 00:33:53.360 forever. 00:33:53.360 --> 00:33:53.480 Forever. 00:33:53.480 --> 00:33:53.720 her. 00:33:55.180 --> 00:33:56.559 Please hear me. 00:33:58.079 --> 00:33:59.339 Dear graduates, 00:34:00.799 --> 00:34:02.500 dear friends, 00:34:03.400 --> 00:34:04.940 seeing Jesus 00:34:04.940 --> 00:34:06.079 and trusting 00:34:06.079 --> 00:34:07.400 him is not 00:34:07.400 --> 00:34:08.260 a blind 00:34:08.260 --> 00:34:09.300 leap of 00:34:09.300 --> 00:34:09.980 faith. 00:34:10.400 --> 00:34:10.820 This is 00:34:10.820 --> 00:34:11.980 really important. 00:34:12.380 --> 00:34:13.179 When Jesus 00:34:13.179 --> 00:34:13.820 says, 00:34:14.159 --> 00:34:14.440 do you 00:34:14.440 --> 00:34:15.219 trust me? 00:34:16.619 --> 00:34:17.679 He's not 00:34:17.679 --> 00:34:18.480 asking you 00:34:18.480 --> 00:34:20.340 to leave 00:34:20.340 --> 00:34:20.980 your comfortable, 00:34:21.519 --> 00:34:22.460 secure place 00:34:22.460 --> 00:34:23.659 and go 00:34:23.659 --> 00:34:24.480 somewhere you've 00:34:24.480 --> 00:34:25.019 never seen 00:34:25.019 --> 00:34:25.599 with your own 00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:26.639 eyes unless 00:34:26.639 --> 00:34:27.159 he's done 00:34:27.159 --> 00:34:27.800 it himself. 00:34:28.900 --> 00:34:30.000 It's exactly 00:34:30.000 --> 00:34:31.079 what Jesus 00:34:31.079 --> 00:34:31.980 does for you, 00:34:32.059 --> 00:34:32.420 isn't it? 00:34:32.840 --> 00:34:33.800 He leaves 00:34:33.800 --> 00:34:34.599 the glories 00:34:34.599 --> 00:34:35.280 of heaven. 00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:37.039 He suffers 00:34:37.039 --> 00:34:37.820 beyond what 00:34:37.820 --> 00:34:38.760 any of us 00:34:38.760 --> 00:34:39.199 have known. 00:34:39.519 --> 00:34:40.240 He dies 00:34:40.240 --> 00:34:41.360 on a cross 00:34:41.360 --> 00:34:42.380 and he lives 00:34:42.380 --> 00:34:43.679 today saying, 00:34:43.920 --> 00:34:44.820 trust me, 00:34:44.960 --> 00:34:45.760 you don't have 00:34:45.760 --> 00:34:46.539 to do what 00:34:46.539 --> 00:34:47.420 I've done, 00:34:47.679 --> 00:34:48.400 but I know 00:34:48.400 --> 00:34:48.860 what's over 00:34:48.860 --> 00:34:49.480 the edge. 00:34:49.699 --> 00:34:50.380 I know what's 00:34:50.380 --> 00:34:51.159 coming next. 00:34:51.440 --> 00:34:52.079 I've been 00:34:52.079 --> 00:34:52.380 there. 00:34:52.460 --> 00:34:52.960 So you 00:34:52.960 --> 00:34:53.699 just see 00:34:53.699 --> 00:34:54.860 me and 00:34:54.860 --> 00:34:55.539 take my 00:34:55.539 --> 00:34:56.619 hand and 00:34:56.619 --> 00:34:57.199 walk by 00:34:57.199 --> 00:34:57.820 faith. 00:34:58.240 --> 00:34:58.900 That's 00:34:58.900 --> 00:34:59.539 what we're 00:34:59.539 --> 00:35:00.179 offered this 00:35:00.179 --> 00:35:00.539 morning. 00:35:00.900 --> 00:35:01.760 He may be 00:35:01.760 --> 00:35:02.519 calling you 00:35:02.519 --> 00:35:03.059 to leave 00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:04.159 home and 00:35:04.159 --> 00:35:04.800 walk by 00:35:04.800 --> 00:35:06.380 faith for 00:35:06.380 --> 00:35:06.920 the very 00:35:06.920 --> 00:35:07.760 first time 00:35:07.760 --> 00:35:08.139 today. 00:35:09.519 --> 00:35:10.519 I can't 00:35:10.519 --> 00:35:11.079 promise you 00:35:11.079 --> 00:35:11.460 it will be 00:35:11.460 --> 00:35:11.780 easy. 00:35:11.900 --> 00:35:12.500 I can promise 00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:13.119 you it 00:35:13.119 --> 00:35:14.500 probably won't. 00:35:15.460 --> 00:35:16.220 But I can 00:35:16.220 --> 00:35:16.840 promise you 00:35:16.840 --> 00:35:17.260 you'll never 00:35:17.260 --> 00:35:17.900 be alone 00:35:17.900 --> 00:35:19.639 and eternity 00:35:19.639 --> 00:35:20.260 will be 00:35:20.260 --> 00:35:21.000 glorious 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:22.079 with your 00:35:22.079 --> 00:35:22.760 best days 00:35:22.760 --> 00:35:23.400 always ahead 00:35:23.400 --> 00:35:23.800 of you. 00:35:24.800 --> 00:35:25.139 If you're 00:35:25.139 --> 00:35:25.619 going off to 00:35:25.619 --> 00:35:25.960 college 00:35:25.960 --> 00:35:26.659 unsure of 00:35:26.659 --> 00:35:26.880 that, 00:35:27.500 --> 00:35:28.159 I'd love to 00:35:28.159 --> 00:35:28.739 talk to you 00:35:28.739 --> 00:35:29.059 today. 00:35:29.380 --> 00:35:29.980 Don't leave 00:35:29.980 --> 00:35:31.699 today without 00:35:31.699 --> 00:35:32.400 talking to me 00:35:32.400 --> 00:35:32.699 or your 00:35:32.699 --> 00:35:33.380 parents or 00:35:33.380 --> 00:35:34.239 someone you 00:35:34.239 --> 00:35:35.679 trust about 00:35:35.679 --> 00:35:36.079 that. 00:35:36.079 --> 00:35:38.360 God's 00:35:38.360 --> 00:35:38.779 but he may 00:35:38.779 --> 00:35:39.259 be calling 00:35:39.259 --> 00:35:41.159 you to 00:35:41.159 --> 00:35:41.779 leave home 00:35:41.779 --> 00:35:43.139 and walk 00:35:43.139 --> 00:35:43.940 by faith 00:35:43.940 --> 00:35:44.739 again 00:35:44.739 --> 00:35:46.380 today 00:35:46.380 --> 00:35:48.679 because it's 00:35:48.679 --> 00:35:49.000 a new 00:35:49.000 --> 00:35:50.119 season and 00:35:50.119 --> 00:35:50.619 you may be 00:35:50.619 --> 00:35:51.179 afraid. 00:35:52.559 --> 00:35:53.319 You may be 00:35:53.319 --> 00:35:53.699 sad. 00:35:54.819 --> 00:35:55.460 You may be 00:35:55.460 --> 00:35:56.259 overwhelmed 00:35:56.259 --> 00:35:58.099 by all the 00:35:58.099 --> 00:35:58.599 things that 00:35:58.599 --> 00:35:59.319 you see with 00:35:59.319 --> 00:35:59.960 your eyes. 00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:02.480 and he 00:36:02.480 --> 00:36:03.099 says fix 00:36:03.099 --> 00:36:03.760 your eyes 00:36:03.760 --> 00:36:04.380 not on 00:36:04.380 --> 00:36:04.659 what is 00:36:04.659 --> 00:36:05.179 seen. 00:36:05.840 --> 00:36:05.960 It's 00:36:05.960 --> 00:36:06.659 temporary. 00:36:07.099 --> 00:36:07.780 I promise. 00:36:09.179 --> 00:36:09.619 But on 00:36:09.619 --> 00:36:09.840 what's 00:36:09.840 --> 00:36:10.519 unseen. 00:36:11.059 --> 00:36:11.240 It's 00:36:11.240 --> 00:36:11.980 eternal. 00:36:12.780 --> 00:36:13.380 Never 00:36:13.380 --> 00:36:13.800 ending. 00:36:14.440 --> 00:36:15.260 So faith 00:36:15.260 --> 00:36:15.639 is the 00:36:15.639 --> 00:36:16.300 assurance 00:36:16.300 --> 00:36:17.679 of things 00:36:17.679 --> 00:36:18.599 hoped for. 00:36:19.039 --> 00:36:19.199 The 00:36:19.199 --> 00:36:19.900 certainty 00:36:19.900 --> 00:36:21.599 of things 00:36:21.599 --> 00:36:22.380 not seen. 00:36:23.699 --> 00:36:24.260 Like the 00:36:24.260 --> 00:36:24.900 fact. 00:36:25.420 --> 00:36:26.300 The fact 00:36:26.300 --> 00:36:26.900 that along 00:36:26.900 --> 00:36:27.900 with Abraham 00:36:27.900 --> 00:36:29.300 and Sarah 00:36:29.300 --> 00:36:30.320 and Moses 00:36:30.320 --> 00:36:31.340 and all 00:36:31.340 --> 00:36:32.079 the saints 00:36:32.079 --> 00:36:32.760 of old 00:36:32.760 --> 00:36:34.420 you who 00:36:34.420 --> 00:36:35.440 suffer now 00:36:35.440 --> 00:36:36.139 will be 00:36:36.139 --> 00:36:37.139 made perfect 00:36:37.139 --> 00:36:38.400 forever. 00:36:39.000 --> 00:36:39.579 You haven't 00:36:39.579 --> 00:36:40.420 seen that. 00:36:40.680 --> 00:36:41.079 It's hard 00:36:41.079 --> 00:36:41.880 to imagine 00:36:41.880 --> 00:36:42.720 but it's 00:36:42.720 --> 00:36:43.780 true and 00:36:43.780 --> 00:36:44.119 it is 00:36:44.119 --> 00:36:44.720 certain 00:36:44.720 --> 00:36:46.079 because God 00:36:46.079 --> 00:36:47.480 has something 00:36:47.480 --> 00:36:48.260 better 00:36:48.260 --> 00:36:49.740 for you. 00:36:50.740 --> 00:36:51.260 Even 00:36:51.260 --> 00:36:51.920 Jesus. 00:36:53.420 --> 00:36:53.960 Let's 00:36:53.960 --> 00:36:54.240 pray. 00:36:57.180 --> 00:36:57.820 God 00:36:57.820 --> 00:36:58.460 thank you 00:36:58.460 --> 00:37:01.700 for giving 00:37:01.700 --> 00:37:01.980 us 00:37:01.980 --> 00:37:02.320 Jesus. 00:37:04.200 --> 00:37:04.940 Thank you 00:37:04.940 --> 00:37:05.340 that he's 00:37:05.340 --> 00:37:05.800 better. 00:37:07.460 --> 00:37:07.800 Even 00:37:07.800 --> 00:37:08.519 suffering 00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:09.160 with him 00:37:09.160 --> 00:37:10.120 is worth 00:37:10.120 --> 00:37:10.640 more than 00:37:10.640 --> 00:37:11.000 all the 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:11.519 treasures 00:37:11.519 --> 00:37:12.019 of the 00:37:12.019 --> 00:37:12.460 world 00:37:12.460 --> 00:37:14.000 and these 00:37:14.000 --> 00:37:15.000 saints of 00:37:15.000 --> 00:37:15.519 old who 00:37:15.519 --> 00:37:16.900 walked with 00:37:16.900 --> 00:37:17.220 you and 00:37:17.220 --> 00:37:17.980 never tasted 00:37:17.980 --> 00:37:18.420 it here. 00:37:18.519 --> 00:37:18.860 Oh they 00:37:18.860 --> 00:37:20.539 rejoiced 00:37:20.539 --> 00:37:20.960 when they 00:37:20.960 --> 00:37:21.720 saw Jesus' 00:37:22.080 --> 00:37:22.680 day and 00:37:22.680 --> 00:37:23.320 so they 00:37:23.320 --> 00:37:24.539 celebrate 00:37:24.539 --> 00:37:25.660 today and 00:37:25.660 --> 00:37:26.660 forever with 00:37:26.660 --> 00:37:26.960 him. 00:37:26.960 --> 00:37:28.000 they're not 00:37:28.000 --> 00:37:30.139 complaining that 00:37:30.139 --> 00:37:30.800 they never got 00:37:30.800 --> 00:37:31.539 the promises 00:37:31.539 --> 00:37:32.099 here. 00:37:32.280 --> 00:37:32.720 They are 00:37:32.720 --> 00:37:34.260 praising you 00:37:34.260 --> 00:37:34.760 that they're 00:37:34.760 --> 00:37:35.699 living in your 00:37:35.699 --> 00:37:36.780 promises now 00:37:36.780 --> 00:37:37.400 and forever. 00:37:38.119 --> 00:37:38.699 Thank you 00:37:38.699 --> 00:37:39.039 Jesus. 00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:41.539 Would you 00:37:41.539 --> 00:37:42.519 teach us to 00:37:42.519 --> 00:37:43.500 walk by faith? 00:37:43.619 --> 00:37:44.440 It's not 00:37:44.440 --> 00:37:45.599 natural for 00:37:45.599 --> 00:37:46.039 us. 00:37:47.340 --> 00:37:48.500 We trust so 00:37:48.500 --> 00:37:48.900 many other 00:37:48.900 --> 00:37:50.400 things especially 00:37:50.400 --> 00:37:51.079 the ones we 00:37:51.079 --> 00:37:51.619 can see. 00:37:51.619 --> 00:37:54.559 so help us 00:37:54.559 --> 00:37:58.079 graduates and 00:37:58.079 --> 00:37:59.440 parents and 00:37:59.440 --> 00:38:00.179 all your 00:38:00.179 --> 00:38:02.880 people to 00:38:02.880 --> 00:38:03.539 trust you 00:38:03.539 --> 00:38:04.940 and walk 00:38:04.940 --> 00:38:05.359 with you 00:38:05.359 --> 00:38:05.799 today. 00:38:06.940 --> 00:38:07.739 We ask it 00:38:07.739 --> 00:38:08.139 in Jesus' 00:38:08.359 --> 00:38:08.539 name. 00:38:09.219 --> 00:38:09.500 Amen. 00:38:10.359 --> 00:38:11.059 For more 00:38:11.059 --> 00:38:12.179 information visit 00:38:12.179 --> 00:38:13.119 us online at 00:38:13.119 --> 00:38:13.900 southwood.org.