Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Our "father" Abraham was an unusual person. His neighbors and relatives and friends were mystified by him. They all knew that he was immensely wealthy, that he could well afford to build himself a magnificent palace to live in; but instead, he chose to spend the rest of his life living in a tent!
The Bible story is this: "By faith he [Abraham] sojourned in the land of promise, as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise" (Heb. 11:9). That's a surprising thing for any fabulously wealthy man to do--choose to live in a tent all his life!
What was the "promise"?" "He waited for the City which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God" (vs. 10). Abraham wanted to bear witness to the world of his day, and yes to the world of all ages since, of two truths:
(1) There is not a city in the world today that has "foundations" like the New Jerusalem. No city but that one will be left standing after the seven last plagues.
(2) Abraham anticipated what the Lord Jesus later said, "Do not labor for the food which perishes, but for the food which endures to everlasting life" (John 6:27).
So, why waste your life energies investing in what at the last will prove to be worthless? Does this mean that the Lord wants all of us to live in tents today, because our "father Abraham" chose to live that way?
No, for Abraham's choice was symbolic; he was "the father of the faithful." But the dear Lord wants us to use sanctified common sense: knowing that we are living in the last days of Christ's ministry in the Most Holy, it's good common sense that we live simply and economically. Jesus loves the wealthy believers, but He also dwells in the modest, humble home where His name is revered.
We want Him to feel at home as a Guest of honor in our homes today. "Having food and clothing, with these we shall be content" (1 Tim. 6:8).
Let's keep our eyes open, looking for the New Jerusalem "which has foundations."
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: September 23, 2008.
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