WEBVTT 00:00:10.089 --> 00:00:18.070 In today's text, we see a covenant that is established 00:00:18.070 --> 00:00:24.989 between Abraham and Abimelech. Now, many of us 00:00:24.989 --> 00:00:30.170 may remember we have encountered Abimelech previously 00:00:30.170 --> 00:00:35.590 in the narrative concerning Abraham in chapter 00:00:35.590 --> 00:00:41.340 20, which is where this narrative... Today we're 00:00:41.340 --> 00:00:45.299 going to consider this text in three parts. Now 00:00:45.299 --> 00:00:47.420 we're not going to follow the structure of the 00:00:47.420 --> 00:00:50.280 text today. What we're going to do is we're going 00:00:50.280 --> 00:00:53.259 to consider an explanation of this text and the 00:00:53.259 --> 00:00:57.159 covenant that is made between Abraham and Abimelech. 00:00:57.179 --> 00:01:00.420 So we'll look at the explanation of that. Then 00:01:00.420 --> 00:01:04.340 we're going to consider the significance of this 00:01:04.340 --> 00:01:09.739 covenant in the life of Abraham. and in the redemptive 00:01:09.739 --> 00:01:13.659 plan of God, then we'll consider the applications 00:01:13.659 --> 00:01:19.900 that come for us today as God's people. First, 00:01:19.980 --> 00:01:22.019 considering the explanation or an explanation 00:01:22.019 --> 00:01:27.180 of the text or this covenant. Now, when we consider 00:01:27.180 --> 00:01:31.480 the context of this section of the narrative, 00:01:31.540 --> 00:01:34.739 it's very important that we realize where it's 00:01:34.739 --> 00:01:40.819 happening and when it's happening. We read, starting 00:01:40.819 --> 00:01:44.340 in verse 22, Now it came about at that time. 00:01:45.659 --> 00:01:51.060 Now, we don't know exactly the timing of this 00:01:51.060 --> 00:01:56.519 event. There's no conclusive or final way of 00:01:56.519 --> 00:02:00.540 determining exactly when it occurred. But we 00:02:00.540 --> 00:02:05.120 do know that it occurs in Gerar, which is where 00:02:05.120 --> 00:02:11.229 Abraham first meets King Abimelech. We read in 00:02:11.229 --> 00:02:14.449 chapter 20 of Genesis, starting in verse 1, Now 00:02:14.449 --> 00:02:17.530 Abraham journeyed from there toward the land 00:02:17.530 --> 00:02:21.509 of the Negev, and settled between Kadesh and 00:02:21.509 --> 00:02:27.530 Shur. Then he sojourned in Gerar. Now, if you 00:02:27.530 --> 00:02:32.069 remember, in the previous narrative concerning 00:02:32.069 --> 00:02:37.259 Abraham and Abimelech, Abraham... was a little 00:02:37.259 --> 00:02:42.680 bit of a scaredy cat with regards to how he acted 00:02:42.680 --> 00:02:47.400 with regards to his wife and the king. If you 00:02:47.400 --> 00:02:51.139 remember, he asked his wife to lie on his behalf 00:02:51.139 --> 00:02:55.360 and to say that she was his sister. Now, King 00:02:55.360 --> 00:03:00.439 Abimelech, as the resident king of that area, 00:03:00.639 --> 00:03:05.780 took Sarah into his harem, but who intervenes? 00:03:06.189 --> 00:03:09.550 to ensure her safety and the security of the 00:03:09.550 --> 00:03:14.550 promise. God himself intervenes and basically 00:03:14.550 --> 00:03:17.849 comes to Abimelech and says, don't touch the 00:03:17.849 --> 00:03:21.530 woman, you're good as dead. That's what he says 00:03:21.530 --> 00:03:26.930 essentially. And Abimelech in that story seemingly 00:03:26.930 --> 00:03:32.990 has more integrity than the man of faith, Abraham. 00:03:34.159 --> 00:03:38.680 Abimelech recognizes the situations he's in, 00:03:38.819 --> 00:03:42.300 but he also recognizes that Abraham has schemed 00:03:42.300 --> 00:03:48.400 against him. But then we find Abimelech takes 00:03:48.400 --> 00:03:54.060 note of Abraham's actions. He's a little sarcastic 00:03:54.060 --> 00:03:57.439 in his final interactions with Abraham at the 00:03:57.439 --> 00:04:01.780 end of chapter 20 there in that section. Now 00:04:01.780 --> 00:04:05.639 in this section where we come in 21, it's very, 00:04:05.680 --> 00:04:10.599 very different, isn't it? No longer is it that 00:04:10.599 --> 00:04:13.479 Abimelech is the one with such integrity, but 00:04:13.479 --> 00:04:16.579 now we find and we come and we find Abraham who's 00:04:16.579 --> 00:04:20.420 very, very different. Abraham who's strong, who's 00:04:20.420 --> 00:04:23.360 bold, who's assertive, who's powerful, a man 00:04:23.360 --> 00:04:27.220 who's strong in his faith, a man who complains 00:04:27.220 --> 00:04:29.800 to the king. He's speaking in terms of equality. 00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:34.839 He's no longer cowering or intimidated by Abimelech, 00:04:34.939 --> 00:04:40.740 but now Abraham is strong and bold in his faith. 00:04:40.839 --> 00:04:43.420 He's a very different man. So in this story, 00:04:43.600 --> 00:04:47.779 which started in chapter 20, verse 1, it's coming 00:04:47.779 --> 00:04:51.980 to conclusion in chapter 22. It's coming full 00:04:51.980 --> 00:04:55.839 circle. And it's showing us something about Abraham, 00:04:56.279 --> 00:04:59.439 the man, and his life. Now there's something 00:04:59.439 --> 00:05:04.500 else that's very significant about this. We see 00:05:04.500 --> 00:05:11.319 the use of the word in the number seven repeatedly 00:05:11.319 --> 00:05:17.060 over and over and over in this text. Now Moses 00:05:17.060 --> 00:05:20.500 is doing that because he's trying to demonstrate 00:05:20.500 --> 00:05:23.560 and show us that there's something of finality 00:05:23.560 --> 00:05:28.160 and wholeness and completion. to this story. 00:05:29.199 --> 00:05:33.160 Abraham's name is used seven times. Abimelech's 00:05:33.160 --> 00:05:36.240 name is used seven times. There's seven eulams. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:40.759 The word for well or oath is used seven times. 00:05:41.660 --> 00:05:45.279 Moses wants us to see that there's something 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:48.579 with regards to the finality, the conclusiveness, 00:05:48.680 --> 00:05:53.079 a wholeness to Abraham's life in this narrative 00:05:53.079 --> 00:05:59.930 that we need to pick up on. There have been promises 00:05:59.930 --> 00:06:04.850 made and fulfilled to Abraham. We saw that with 00:06:04.850 --> 00:06:08.449 the son Isaac. The fulfillment of the son of 00:06:08.449 --> 00:06:12.449 promise. But we have to remember there were other 00:06:12.449 --> 00:06:15.730 promises and there are other promises that God 00:06:15.730 --> 00:06:21.529 has made to Abraham that are yet unfulfilled. 00:06:21.829 --> 00:06:25.600 And so we find in this narrative. some finality 00:06:25.600 --> 00:06:28.680 and some conclusion, some wholeness with regards 00:06:28.680 --> 00:06:33.660 to those promises in the life of Abraham. So 00:06:33.660 --> 00:06:36.160 as we consider this, we see that Abimelech comes 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:39.819 to Abraham and he's seeking to initiate or establish 00:06:39.819 --> 00:06:45.120 a covenant or a treaty. Now, it's interesting 00:06:45.120 --> 00:06:48.120 because Abimelech is the one that approaches 00:06:48.120 --> 00:06:52.839 Abraham and comes to him about this. Why does 00:06:52.839 --> 00:06:57.680 Abimelech... approach Abraham about this? Because 00:06:57.680 --> 00:07:03.139 God's abundant favor and blessing rests upon 00:07:03.139 --> 00:07:07.899 the patriarch, the man of faith. And he's prospering 00:07:07.899 --> 00:07:13.720 to such a degree that he is threatening the resident 00:07:13.720 --> 00:07:20.639 king of that region. So we find Abimelech coming 00:07:20.639 --> 00:07:23.750 to Abraham. Not by himself. Did you notice that 00:07:23.750 --> 00:07:28.430 in the text? But who does he come with? His military 00:07:28.430 --> 00:07:32.230 commander. Now, what do you think the purpose 00:07:32.230 --> 00:07:39.089 of that would be? Maybe a show of power. A show 00:07:39.089 --> 00:07:44.250 of authority. To let Abraham know that he's still 00:07:44.250 --> 00:07:49.930 in charge of this place. Or so he wants to present, 00:07:50.029 --> 00:07:55.620 at least. He recognizes God's blessing in Abraham's 00:07:55.620 --> 00:07:59.740 life, doesn't he? He says, Now therefore swear 00:07:59.740 --> 00:08:03.680 to me by God that you will not deal falsely with 00:08:03.680 --> 00:08:06.899 me or with my offspring or with my posterity, 00:08:06.920 --> 00:08:09.079 but according to the kindness that I have shown 00:08:09.079 --> 00:08:13.019 to you, you shall show to me to the land in which 00:08:13.019 --> 00:08:15.399 you have sojourned. In verse 22, right above 00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:18.899 that, he says, Now it came about at that time 00:08:18.899 --> 00:08:22.209 that Abimelech And Phecal, the commander of his 00:08:22.209 --> 00:08:26.689 army, spoke to Abraham, saying, God is with you 00:08:26.689 --> 00:08:31.250 in all that you do. Now, interestingly enough, 00:08:31.350 --> 00:08:34.129 we see that Abimelech recognizes the favor of 00:08:34.129 --> 00:08:36.529 God, the prosperity of God in Abraham's life. 00:08:37.570 --> 00:08:43.870 But he's justifiably skeptical of Abraham, isn't 00:08:43.870 --> 00:08:46.990 he? He comes to Abraham, he says, don't deal 00:08:46.990 --> 00:08:52.649 falsely with me. Don't get sneaky with me. Why 00:08:52.649 --> 00:08:55.669 would Abimelech think that, brothers and sisters? 00:08:56.450 --> 00:09:00.570 Because of their previous interactions. Because 00:09:00.570 --> 00:09:04.769 that's exactly how Abraham, the man of faith, 00:09:04.970 --> 00:09:10.889 acted toward this pagan king. Abimelech had more 00:09:10.889 --> 00:09:16.470 integrity than Abraham did at that time. In their 00:09:16.470 --> 00:09:20.299 previous... interaction, though we'll see that's 00:09:20.299 --> 00:09:24.720 not the case any longer. That's not the case 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:30.200 anymore. So he's skeptical, and he comes to him 00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:33.700 with his military commander, and what is Abraham's 00:09:33.700 --> 00:09:36.940 immediate or initial response? What does he say? 00:09:37.240 --> 00:09:39.940 In a very quick and to -the -point manner, he 00:09:39.940 --> 00:09:44.580 says, I swear it. You might think that's going 00:09:44.580 --> 00:09:47.720 to be the end of it. But that's not the case. 00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:54.820 Abraham immediately seeks to clarify a few matters 00:09:54.820 --> 00:09:59.200 with this resident king, with Abimelech, this 00:09:59.200 --> 00:10:03.240 powerful man in this region. What does he do? 00:10:03.379 --> 00:10:08.620 The text says, Abraham complained to Abimelech 00:10:08.620 --> 00:10:11.639 because of a well of water which the servant 00:10:11.639 --> 00:10:15.220 of Abimelech had seized. Now, that word seized, 00:10:16.169 --> 00:10:21.250 is used with regards to violence. This wasn't 00:10:21.250 --> 00:10:25.710 just a little tiff. No, this was something where 00:10:25.710 --> 00:10:29.929 the king's men violently took this well from 00:10:29.929 --> 00:10:33.809 Abraham and his herdsmen, Abraham and his people, 00:10:33.870 --> 00:10:38.549 a well that Abraham and his household had dug 00:10:38.549 --> 00:10:42.090 themselves, which he believed he was in possession 00:10:42.090 --> 00:10:44.679 of. But there's also another word I think we 00:10:44.679 --> 00:10:47.960 need to understand and clarify. The word complained. 00:10:48.860 --> 00:10:52.600 Now, when we hear that word, we typically have 00:10:52.600 --> 00:10:55.240 a negative connotation with regards to the person 00:10:55.240 --> 00:10:59.639 doing it. Meaning, this sheds bad light on Abraham, 00:10:59.840 --> 00:11:02.019 but that's not how we should take it, brothers 00:11:02.019 --> 00:11:07.299 and sisters. It's a technical, legal word that 00:11:07.299 --> 00:11:13.299 makes it to seem and appear that Abraham is rebuking, 00:11:13.299 --> 00:11:19.779 he's reproving Abimelech. He's correcting Abimelech, 00:11:19.820 --> 00:11:23.139 meaning there's no false light being shed on 00:11:23.139 --> 00:11:27.480 the man of faith in this instance, at this time, 00:11:27.539 --> 00:11:31.519 in this period, and his interaction with Abimelech. 00:11:31.799 --> 00:11:38.299 So, we see a dramatic change in Abraham already, 00:11:38.480 --> 00:11:40.850 don't we, brothers and sisters? Whereas before 00:11:40.850 --> 00:11:43.950 he was playing sleight of hand and he was kind 00:11:43.950 --> 00:11:46.909 of resorting to half -truths and deceit and manipulation 00:11:46.909 --> 00:11:50.289 because he was fearful of this man and what might 00:11:50.289 --> 00:11:53.429 come of him and his wife, here we find that Abraham's 00:11:53.429 --> 00:11:56.690 completely and totally different. He's up front. 00:11:57.789 --> 00:12:02.110 He's assertive. He's holy and completely truthful. 00:12:03.330 --> 00:12:07.940 He's not intimidated. by this man. He's not fearful 00:12:07.940 --> 00:12:11.799 of what might come upon him and his wife and 00:12:11.799 --> 00:12:16.480 his household. No, Abraham is completely different 00:12:16.480 --> 00:12:20.679 in this instance, brothers and sisters. And we 00:12:20.679 --> 00:12:25.580 see that he goes on to confidently assert the 00:12:25.580 --> 00:12:30.039 terms of this covenant if this king wants to 00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:34.809 be at peace with him. What are the terms? We 00:12:34.809 --> 00:12:38.950 see them in verse 27. Abraham took sheep and 00:12:38.950 --> 00:12:42.009 an oxen and gave them to Abimelech, and the two 00:12:42.009 --> 00:12:45.809 of them made a covenant. Then Abraham set seven 00:12:45.809 --> 00:12:49.129 ewe lambs of the flock by themselves. Abimelech 00:12:49.129 --> 00:12:52.470 said to Abraham, What do these seven ewe lambs 00:12:52.470 --> 00:12:55.610 mean? What you have set by themselves. Which 00:12:55.610 --> 00:12:59.009 you have set by themselves. He said, You shall 00:12:59.009 --> 00:13:02.299 take these seven ewe lambs. From my hand. So 00:13:02.299 --> 00:13:06.299 that it may be a witness to me. That I dug this 00:13:06.299 --> 00:13:13.279 well. Now. The terms. Are that Abimelech. Accept 00:13:13.279 --> 00:13:18.600 this gift. This payment. For what? This well. 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:21.879 That Abraham and his household. And his servants 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:26.179 have dug. Abraham wants it loud and clear. He 00:13:26.179 --> 00:13:32.539 wants it legal. That he owns that. Well, those 00:13:32.539 --> 00:13:38.139 are the terms that he sets with Abimelech. Now, 00:13:38.220 --> 00:13:42.000 it's interesting, I find it fascinating, that 00:13:42.000 --> 00:13:45.960 as Abraham is interacting with Abimelech, Abimelech 00:13:45.960 --> 00:13:49.460 is somewhat fuzzy and he doesn't understand. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:52.399 He's ignorant of what Abraham's doing with regards 00:13:52.399 --> 00:13:57.700 to the sacrifices. Now, I don't think that Abimelech 00:13:57.700 --> 00:14:03.009 is ignorant of covenants. or treaties, or contracts, 00:14:03.129 --> 00:14:06.309 but he's ignorant of the way in which Abraham 00:14:06.309 --> 00:14:10.809 is establishing this covenant. How is Abraham 00:14:10.809 --> 00:14:16.990 establishing this covenant with this king? He's 00:14:16.990 --> 00:14:20.409 making a covenant in the way that God has taught 00:14:20.409 --> 00:14:23.909 him to make covenants, isn't he? By providing 00:14:23.909 --> 00:14:27.730 a sacrifice, and what would they do? They would... 00:14:28.080 --> 00:14:30.879 split the sacrifices, and the two of them would 00:14:30.879 --> 00:14:35.039 walk down the middle of the sacrifices, cursing 00:14:35.039 --> 00:14:39.000 one who breaks it, calling down a testimony, 00:14:39.120 --> 00:14:42.179 a testimony of God, that if one of us breaks 00:14:42.179 --> 00:14:47.279 this covenant, let us be as those animals which 00:14:47.279 --> 00:14:51.080 were butchered. That's what he's doing. He's 00:14:51.080 --> 00:14:55.259 enacting a covenant as God has taught him to 00:14:55.259 --> 00:14:59.179 enact. this covenant. He's dealing with this 00:14:59.179 --> 00:15:03.259 pagan king in such a way that he's been taught 00:15:03.259 --> 00:15:07.419 of God how to live and how to walk and how to 00:15:07.419 --> 00:15:13.820 interact with those around him. He wants this 00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:18.659 well very badly. He longs to have this well. 00:15:19.320 --> 00:15:23.919 This source of life for him and his household. 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:28.399 We think about Oh well, in Abraham's time today, 00:15:28.539 --> 00:15:32.779 we might not think it's that big of a deal. But 00:15:32.779 --> 00:15:35.840 brothers and sisters, that was a big deal for 00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:39.600 him. That was a livelihood for him and his home. 00:15:39.980 --> 00:15:42.980 That was livelihood for him and his livestock 00:15:42.980 --> 00:15:45.500 and his sheep and his cattle and his lambs. That 00:15:45.500 --> 00:15:48.299 was the livelihood of his whole household, to 00:15:48.299 --> 00:15:51.639 have water so they could dwell in that area. 00:15:53.389 --> 00:15:56.149 He needed that water to live and to survive, 00:15:56.429 --> 00:16:00.809 to thrive in this area. But there's more than 00:16:00.809 --> 00:16:06.490 that, I believe. Why would Abraham, the man of 00:16:06.490 --> 00:16:09.809 faith who's received the promises of God, so 00:16:09.809 --> 00:16:16.110 desperately long for such a little piece of this 00:16:16.110 --> 00:16:19.789 land? Think about that, brothers and sisters. 00:16:20.649 --> 00:16:25.529 What is it that makes Abraham so long for the 00:16:25.529 --> 00:16:32.590 land in which this covenant has been made? Now, 00:16:32.629 --> 00:16:36.409 there are certain results that come of this covenant. 00:16:36.490 --> 00:16:39.629 Abraham goes on to enjoy the benefits of it, 00:16:39.669 --> 00:16:45.330 to utilize it. We see in verses 31 through 34. 00:16:46.190 --> 00:16:48.889 What does Abraham do immediately because of the 00:16:48.889 --> 00:16:51.950 significance of what has taken place? He names 00:16:51.950 --> 00:16:55.590 the place. Beersheba. Either the place of the 00:16:55.590 --> 00:17:00.029 well or the place of seven. Or maybe both. There's 00:17:00.029 --> 00:17:02.950 something significant that stands out. Abraham 00:17:02.950 --> 00:17:08.569 wants to remember this oath. He wants to remember 00:17:08.569 --> 00:17:11.349 this well. He wants to remember what has happened 00:17:11.349 --> 00:17:14.369 in this place at this time. So he names the place. 00:17:14.490 --> 00:17:18.890 And then he plants. A tamarisk tree. Now, a tamarisk 00:17:18.890 --> 00:17:21.269 tree, we don't know for certain, but it was probably 00:17:21.269 --> 00:17:28.089 a long -living tree that grows very slowly. Now, 00:17:28.170 --> 00:17:31.809 again, we have to ask, there's something significant 00:17:31.809 --> 00:17:38.410 about this place that Abraham would plant a tree 00:17:38.410 --> 00:17:45.410 which would take hundreds of years to grow. And 00:17:45.410 --> 00:17:49.589 a tree that he may not even see it grow all that 00:17:49.589 --> 00:17:53.690 much before he dies. But maybe he's thinking, 00:17:53.829 --> 00:17:57.950 one day I'll enjoy the shade of this tree, just 00:17:57.950 --> 00:18:02.369 like the oaks of Mamre. Or maybe he's thinking, 00:18:02.509 --> 00:18:08.309 I want to plant something of my own in this place 00:18:08.309 --> 00:18:12.430 by this piece of property in which I possess, 00:18:12.849 --> 00:18:16.980 that I just... Legally was confirmed to own by 00:18:16.980 --> 00:18:21.160 the king of this region. Maybe he just wants 00:18:21.160 --> 00:18:24.900 to plant it so that he can say he planted it. 00:18:25.160 --> 00:18:27.319 You know, brothers and sisters, there's a deeper 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:32.460 meaning. He plants it because it will be there 00:18:32.460 --> 00:18:36.519 a long time. He plants it because it will remain 00:18:36.519 --> 00:18:42.700 long after he is dead yet. He plants it in this 00:18:42.700 --> 00:18:49.259 place, Beersheba. Then, as a result of this covenant, 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:55.599 he worships God. He calls on the name of God. 00:18:56.599 --> 00:18:59.839 It's interesting to me that Abimelech and Phekel, 00:18:59.980 --> 00:19:04.000 they leave and they go home. They go home to 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:07.400 their foreign gods, their foreign deities, their 00:19:07.400 --> 00:19:11.069 foreign powers, their idols. They're false gods. 00:19:11.750 --> 00:19:14.549 And here's Abraham, who's living in the land 00:19:14.549 --> 00:19:17.569 of the Philistines, even though they don't technically 00:19:17.569 --> 00:19:21.750 reside there yet, but he's living in the land 00:19:21.750 --> 00:19:24.609 of those people who are hostile to God and His 00:19:24.609 --> 00:19:28.970 promises. Yet we see him having fidelity and 00:19:28.970 --> 00:19:32.029 faithfulness in his worship to the one true God. 00:19:32.130 --> 00:19:35.009 He's been dealing with this pagan king, yet he's 00:19:35.009 --> 00:19:39.269 still faithful to worship God. And to faithfully 00:19:39.269 --> 00:19:43.769 proclaim God's attributes. The everlasting God. 00:19:44.569 --> 00:19:48.369 And then he remains and he sojourns in that area. 00:19:49.329 --> 00:19:53.190 Now, this is kind of the home base for Abraham 00:19:53.190 --> 00:19:56.930 this whole period, the rest of his life. We see 00:19:56.930 --> 00:19:59.569 that Isaac really takes up this base as well. 00:19:59.710 --> 00:20:04.480 So they stay in this area. In this specific region. 00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:07.480 Really the remainder of his days. But all the 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:10.220 while. Even while he's living there. Even while 00:20:10.220 --> 00:20:13.900 he's settling in this land. By this well. This 00:20:13.900 --> 00:20:18.359 place which he's named. He's still. An alien. 00:20:19.460 --> 00:20:24.019 He's still sojourned. He's not a permanent. Resident. 00:20:24.740 --> 00:20:30.240 Of this place. He's living and dwelling. Among 00:20:30.240 --> 00:20:34.869 the Philistines. we could say. So what is the 00:20:34.869 --> 00:20:38.769 significance of this covenant in Abraham's life? 00:20:39.430 --> 00:20:44.009 What's the big deal? Why has the Spirit of God 00:20:44.009 --> 00:20:47.190 inspired this section of Scripture for us to 00:20:47.190 --> 00:20:53.190 hear? Why has God given this to us? Well, it's 00:20:53.190 --> 00:20:58.730 significant because God has made promises to 00:20:58.730 --> 00:21:02.980 Abraham that are not fully in his possession 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:08.900 yet. We have to remember that it wasn't just 00:21:08.900 --> 00:21:15.099 the promise of a son that God has made to Abraham. 00:21:15.500 --> 00:21:22.259 If we turn back to Genesis chapter 13, and you 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:27.099 recall the incident with him and Lot, it's vaguely 00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:30.740 similar to what we're reading about now. Abraham 00:21:30.740 --> 00:21:34.539 is prospering, and so they have to part ways. 00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:41.579 Well, God makes a glorious promise to Abraham 00:21:41.579 --> 00:21:45.680 in this section of Scripture. In Genesis 13, 00:21:45.980 --> 00:21:49.059 starting in verse 12, Abraham settled in the 00:21:49.059 --> 00:21:52.480 land of Canaan, while Lot settled in the cities 00:21:52.480 --> 00:21:55.900 of the valley and moved his tents as far as Sodom. 00:21:56.910 --> 00:21:59.609 Now the men of Sodom were wicked exceedingly 00:21:59.609 --> 00:22:03.369 and sinners against the Lord. The Lord said to 00:22:03.369 --> 00:22:07.470 Abraham, after Lot has separated from him, now 00:22:07.470 --> 00:22:11.890 lift up your eyes and look for the place where 00:22:11.890 --> 00:22:15.549 you are. Northward, southward, eastward, and 00:22:15.549 --> 00:22:18.829 westward. Meaning, look all around you, Abraham. 00:22:20.329 --> 00:22:25.369 Look in every direction for all the land which 00:22:25.369 --> 00:22:29.569 you see. I will give to you and to your descendants 00:22:29.569 --> 00:22:36.710 forever. God has made a promise to Abraham, not 00:22:36.710 --> 00:22:39.809 just regarding his son being born, brothers and 00:22:39.809 --> 00:22:43.269 sisters, but God has made a promise to Abraham 00:22:43.269 --> 00:22:47.009 that the fulfillment of all his other promises 00:22:47.009 --> 00:22:49.130 and his descendants after him, the descendants 00:22:49.130 --> 00:22:53.650 which are as multitudinous as the stars, those 00:22:53.650 --> 00:22:58.450 descendants will inherit. All the land in which 00:22:58.450 --> 00:23:03.430 Abraham is dwelling. God has promised him the 00:23:03.430 --> 00:23:07.630 land, brothers and sisters. You see, this section 00:23:07.630 --> 00:23:10.789 of Scripture is bringing some conclusion with 00:23:10.789 --> 00:23:14.769 regards to God's promise to Abraham that he will 00:23:14.769 --> 00:23:18.569 come into possession of the promised land. We 00:23:18.569 --> 00:23:25.910 find that Abraham in God's providence, is sought 00:23:25.910 --> 00:23:36.730 out by King Abimelech to receive a covenant so 00:23:36.730 --> 00:23:42.509 that Abraham can freely and securely, without 00:23:42.509 --> 00:23:48.190 threat, in peace, enjoy the land which God has 00:23:48.190 --> 00:23:53.279 promised to him in the future. That's part of 00:23:53.279 --> 00:23:54.960 the significance of this story, brothers and 00:23:54.960 --> 00:23:58.759 sisters. That God, through Abimelech, is confirming 00:23:58.759 --> 00:24:04.579 his promise to Abraham regarding the land. Now, 00:24:04.700 --> 00:24:08.680 he doesn't only have legal right and legal authority 00:24:08.680 --> 00:24:12.559 to settle and to do what he pleases in this land 00:24:12.559 --> 00:24:16.599 that God has promised to him. But he also owns 00:24:16.599 --> 00:24:21.180 a small... portion of that land. However small, 00:24:21.279 --> 00:24:25.980 brothers and sisters, Abraham owns a piece of 00:24:25.980 --> 00:24:29.839 the property that God has promised to him in 00:24:29.839 --> 00:24:36.859 that well. It's his. It's nobody else's. It's 00:24:36.859 --> 00:24:44.339 in his possession, though not yet fully in his 00:24:44.339 --> 00:24:48.309 possession. This section of Scripture is significant 00:24:48.309 --> 00:24:53.849 because of the transformation of Abraham from 00:24:53.849 --> 00:24:57.670 the start of his sojourning to the end of his 00:24:57.670 --> 00:25:03.670 sojourning. We see this grand change that has 00:25:03.670 --> 00:25:05.950 taken place in the life of Abraham, don't we? 00:25:06.329 --> 00:25:11.589 He's not the same Abraham that we met in Genesis 00:25:11.589 --> 00:25:14.390 chapter 20 in his first interaction with Abimelech. 00:25:14.920 --> 00:25:18.380 He's a completely different Abraham. How in the 00:25:18.380 --> 00:25:25.180 world is this man of faith so different? What 00:25:25.180 --> 00:25:28.359 has happened to him? Brothers and sisters, we 00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:32.940 know from Romans chapter 4 that Abraham has justifying 00:25:32.940 --> 00:25:36.299 faith as the free gift of God. And if he has 00:25:36.299 --> 00:25:39.480 justifying faith as a free gift of God, that 00:25:39.480 --> 00:25:42.960 means he's also sanctified by the grace of God 00:25:42.960 --> 00:25:46.779 in his life. It's not just that Abraham is a 00:25:46.779 --> 00:25:49.319 man of faith, but it's also that Abraham is a 00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:52.359 man who, just like you and me, is a man who is 00:25:52.359 --> 00:25:56.119 sanctified by the grace of God, by the Spirit 00:25:56.119 --> 00:26:01.160 of God in his life. He was less sanctified the 00:26:01.160 --> 00:26:05.420 first time he met Abimelech. And he was more 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:08.619 sanctified the second time he interacts with 00:26:08.619 --> 00:26:11.400 Abimelech. He's gone through a transformation 00:26:11.400 --> 00:26:15.589 in the midst. of his sojournings while he's waiting 00:26:15.589 --> 00:26:20.009 on the promises of God. Brothers and sisters, 00:26:20.230 --> 00:26:27.210 does that sound vaguely familiar to you? Is there 00:26:27.210 --> 00:26:31.130 anything that you can relate to in Abraham's 00:26:31.130 --> 00:26:35.069 life with regards to that and his change in the 00:26:35.069 --> 00:26:38.309 midst of his pilgrimage, in the midst of his 00:26:38.309 --> 00:26:44.099 journeys? But we also are taught, But this is 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:46.660 significant because we learn about the nature 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:58.299 of faith. Abraham exercises faith as he is sanctified. 00:26:59.019 --> 00:27:04.420 And he's living in accordance with and in light 00:27:04.420 --> 00:27:09.539 of what God has promised to him, isn't he? Brothers 00:27:09.539 --> 00:27:13.289 and sisters, why? Does he plant the tamarisk 00:27:13.289 --> 00:27:17.609 tree? Why does he worship God in that place? 00:27:17.730 --> 00:27:19.750 Why does he take up residence in that place? 00:27:19.849 --> 00:27:22.170 Why does he want the well, brothers and sisters? 00:27:22.309 --> 00:27:25.049 Because God has promised to him that this will 00:27:25.049 --> 00:27:29.630 be his land. And he believes that God will do 00:27:29.630 --> 00:27:32.789 what he has said he will do. So out of faith... 00:27:33.160 --> 00:27:36.200 He's living in the land that God has promised 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:40.380 to him. He's exercising faith in God. Romans 00:27:40.380 --> 00:27:44.140 4 tells us that he grew strong with regards to 00:27:44.140 --> 00:27:48.339 the promise in his faith. Abraham's faith was 00:27:48.339 --> 00:27:51.539 strengthened as he looked to the promise of God 00:27:51.539 --> 00:27:58.920 coming to fruition in his life. We read in Hebrews 00:27:58.920 --> 00:28:07.000 chapter 6. And in Hebrews chapter 11, all these 00:28:07.000 --> 00:28:12.279 died in faith. Listen to that. Who's he referring 00:28:12.279 --> 00:28:16.640 to? Everybody in the hall of faith. Everybody 00:28:16.640 --> 00:28:21.599 listed, including Abraham. All these died in 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:26.339 faith without receiving the promises, but having 00:28:26.339 --> 00:28:29.680 seen them and having welcomed them from a distance. 00:28:30.539 --> 00:28:32.819 And having confessed that they were strangers 00:28:32.819 --> 00:28:37.339 and exiles on the earth. For those who say such 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:40.720 things make it clear that they are seeking a 00:28:40.720 --> 00:28:45.259 country of their own. And indeed, if they have 00:28:45.259 --> 00:28:47.920 been thinking of that country from which they 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:50.819 went out, they would have had opportunity to 00:28:50.819 --> 00:28:56.259 return. Verse 16. But as it is, they desire a 00:28:56.259 --> 00:29:01.779 better country. That is a heavenly. Therefore 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:06.900 God is not ashamed to be called their God, for 00:29:06.900 --> 00:29:10.819 he has prepared a city for them by faith Abraham. 00:29:12.740 --> 00:29:16.839 Abraham lived and dwelled in the land, brothers 00:29:16.839 --> 00:29:22.039 and sisters, by faith in the promises to come. 00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:30.309 Not as one of this world. He was looking for 00:29:30.309 --> 00:29:36.069 a heavenly city, a heavenly home. His heart, 00:29:36.089 --> 00:29:39.549 his affections were other worldly brothers and 00:29:39.549 --> 00:29:44.369 sisters. They rested elsewhere in the promises 00:29:44.369 --> 00:29:49.549 of God. So this is a very significant text of 00:29:49.549 --> 00:29:52.329 Scripture, is it not, brothers and sisters? Because 00:29:52.329 --> 00:29:54.670 it teaches us about the redemption that God has 00:29:54.670 --> 00:29:58.539 promised. It teaches us about faith. and sanctification, 00:29:58.920 --> 00:30:04.400 and what is to come in the culmination of God's 00:30:04.400 --> 00:30:07.339 promises. So consider with me some applications 00:30:07.339 --> 00:30:13.920 of this text for our lives. While we consider 00:30:13.920 --> 00:30:15.680 these, it's important for us to understand something. 00:30:16.339 --> 00:30:20.839 Many figures in the Bible, especially in the 00:30:20.839 --> 00:30:23.240 Old Testament, in particular in the Old Testament, 00:30:23.440 --> 00:30:28.890 are presented predominantly as types of Christ. 00:30:29.569 --> 00:30:32.390 Meaning they're the type and Christ is the anti 00:30:32.390 --> 00:30:37.130 -type that fulfills the type. So they're presenting 00:30:37.130 --> 00:30:39.890 us with something that is true about Christ and 00:30:39.890 --> 00:30:42.289 Christ is the substance and the fulfillment of 00:30:42.289 --> 00:30:46.470 it. But in Scripture, brothers and sisters, Abraham 00:30:46.470 --> 00:30:50.650 is presented predominantly not as a type of Christ, 00:30:50.910 --> 00:30:55.990 but he's presented predominantly as an exemplar 00:30:56.359 --> 00:31:02.119 of faith, as a type of believer in the world. 00:31:02.380 --> 00:31:07.180 He's presented predominantly as a man in possession 00:31:07.180 --> 00:31:11.839 of justifying, saving faith, who is an alien 00:31:11.839 --> 00:31:18.079 and a pilgrim in this world. So that's how Abraham 00:31:18.079 --> 00:31:22.019 is presented. And we're exhorted in the New Testament, 00:31:22.140 --> 00:31:26.559 in Hebrews in particular, to imitate. The faith 00:31:26.559 --> 00:31:32.460 and the faithfulness of Abraham. So that means 00:31:32.460 --> 00:31:38.359 that believers in Jesus Christ are aliens and 00:31:38.359 --> 00:31:44.259 exiles in this world. That's why James addresses 00:31:44.259 --> 00:31:47.740 the church in such a way. That's why Peter refers 00:31:47.740 --> 00:31:53.220 to the church as aliens and exiles in this world. 00:31:54.160 --> 00:31:57.940 So we find several things that we can apply to 00:31:57.940 --> 00:32:03.059 our lives from this text. The first is that we 00:32:03.059 --> 00:32:10.400 are pilgrims or sojourners in this world. Brothers 00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:14.519 and sisters, as long as there are promises that 00:32:14.519 --> 00:32:17.259 we are not fully in possession of in this life, 00:32:17.420 --> 00:32:22.579 we are pilgrims in this world. Are there promises 00:32:22.579 --> 00:32:26.720 yet? unfulfilled in the life of the believer. 00:32:27.339 --> 00:32:30.059 Yes, there are brothers and sisters. They're 00:32:30.059 --> 00:32:32.079 fulfilled and they're brought about in Christ, 00:32:32.240 --> 00:32:37.140 but they have not been fully and finally realized 00:32:37.140 --> 00:32:42.619 and accomplished in time and history yet. Now 00:32:42.619 --> 00:32:45.940 for Abraham, that was the promise of the land, 00:32:46.180 --> 00:32:49.700 the promised land, Canaan. For the believer, 00:32:49.859 --> 00:32:55.319 there's many, but... there still remains the 00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:59.640 promised land for the believer. For the regenerate 00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:02.920 man or woman, for those who know Jesus Christ, 00:33:03.079 --> 00:33:06.480 we are pilgrims in this world waiting for the 00:33:06.480 --> 00:33:09.900 return of Jesus Christ and the new heavens and 00:33:09.900 --> 00:33:13.039 the new earth and the promised land, the place 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:17.519 in which God will dwell with His people, brothers 00:33:17.519 --> 00:33:22.630 and sisters. We read so often in the Scriptures 00:33:22.630 --> 00:33:26.329 of what it will be like in that day, in that 00:33:26.329 --> 00:33:32.910 age, when Christ returns. We could turn to Isaiah 00:33:32.910 --> 00:33:47.529 chapter 11. And we read in verse 6, And the wolf 00:33:47.529 --> 00:33:50.599 will dwell with the lamb, And the leopard will 00:33:50.599 --> 00:33:53.059 lie down with the young goat. It's beautiful. 00:33:55.240 --> 00:33:58.700 And the calf and the young lion and the fatling 00:33:58.700 --> 00:34:02.619 together. And a little boy will lead them. Also 00:34:02.619 --> 00:34:05.539 the cow and the bear will graze. Their young 00:34:05.539 --> 00:34:08.920 will lie down together. And the lion will eat 00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:12.840 straw like the ox. The nursing child will play 00:34:12.840 --> 00:34:16.340 by the hole of the cobra. And the weaned child 00:34:16.340 --> 00:34:20.269 will put this hand. put his hand on the vipers' 00:34:20.309 --> 00:34:25.070 den. They will not hurt or destroy in all my 00:34:25.070 --> 00:34:28.230 holy mountain, for the earth will be full of 00:34:28.230 --> 00:34:31.190 the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover 00:34:31.190 --> 00:34:35.809 the sea. Brothers and sisters, it's speaking 00:34:35.809 --> 00:34:38.289 of the new heavens and the new earth and the 00:34:38.289 --> 00:34:42.389 eternal glorified state of the world following 00:34:42.389 --> 00:34:46.989 the great regeneration of all things. It's talking 00:34:46.989 --> 00:34:49.909 about the coming culminated age in which Christ 00:34:49.909 --> 00:34:54.989 redeems his people fully and finally. The promise 00:34:54.989 --> 00:35:02.150 of the land fulfilled for every believer in Jesus 00:35:02.150 --> 00:35:06.989 Christ. Now, we are pilgrims, brothers and sisters. 00:35:07.230 --> 00:35:09.909 We are waiting. We are longing. We are looking 00:35:09.909 --> 00:35:12.809 for something further, something better, something 00:35:12.809 --> 00:35:16.219 that's not here yet. We live in the now. but 00:35:16.219 --> 00:35:20.539 not yet. It's a very true reality and a very 00:35:20.539 --> 00:35:23.880 true saying. This is why we read in 2 Peter, 00:35:24.300 --> 00:35:27.260 But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, 00:35:27.519 --> 00:35:30.960 in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, 00:35:31.159 --> 00:35:33.980 and the elements will be destroyed with intense 00:35:33.980 --> 00:35:36.960 heat, and the earth and its works will be burned 00:35:36.960 --> 00:35:39.940 up. Since all these things are to be destroyed 00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:43.880 in this way, What sort of people ought you to 00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:50.579 be in holy conduct and godliness? Looking for 00:35:50.579 --> 00:35:56.460 and hastening the coming of the day of God, because 00:35:56.460 --> 00:35:59.219 of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, 00:35:59.320 --> 00:36:02.539 and the elements will melt with intense heat. 00:36:02.679 --> 00:36:05.039 But listen to this, brothers and sisters. But 00:36:05.039 --> 00:36:08.420 according to His promise, according to God's 00:36:08.420 --> 00:36:13.119 promise, But according to God's promise, we are 00:36:13.119 --> 00:36:17.360 looking for new heavens and a new earth in which 00:36:17.360 --> 00:36:22.880 righteousness dwells. Amen, brothers and sisters. 00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:27.699 That's the promised land. Blessed are the meek, 00:36:27.699 --> 00:36:30.519 for they shall inherit the earth. That's the 00:36:30.519 --> 00:36:32.800 future which lays ahead for the people of God, 00:36:32.880 --> 00:36:36.900 brothers and sisters, following the return of 00:36:36.900 --> 00:36:41.880 Jesus Christ. We are pilgrims in this world. 00:36:42.360 --> 00:36:49.139 That is our eternal home. But we also see that 00:36:49.139 --> 00:36:54.400 while we sojourn, we will experience trials, 00:36:54.760 --> 00:36:59.940 temptations, struggles, a lot of the things that 00:36:59.940 --> 00:37:06.860 Abraham enjoyed in the experience. A double reality. 00:37:08.010 --> 00:37:13.090 Blessing and curse. Hardship and great blessing. 00:37:13.909 --> 00:37:16.650 We'll have to deal with the world around us like 00:37:16.650 --> 00:37:21.769 he dealt with Abimelech. We'll have to deal with 00:37:21.769 --> 00:37:25.190 sinners and sin and temptation and trials and 00:37:25.190 --> 00:37:29.289 struggles. But brothers and sisters, as we sojourn, 00:37:29.309 --> 00:37:34.949 we're also going to experience great joy. In 00:37:34.949 --> 00:37:38.010 the heights of love, we have the promises of 00:37:38.010 --> 00:37:41.090 God and they are effective in our lives now, 00:37:41.269 --> 00:37:45.670 brothers and sisters. We don't wait for Christ 00:37:45.670 --> 00:37:50.710 as those with no hope. His work is in the believer, 00:37:50.789 --> 00:37:52.949 brothers and sisters, and it's powerful and it's 00:37:52.949 --> 00:37:56.570 effective. So we will have trials and tribulations 00:37:56.570 --> 00:37:59.110 in this life, but we will also have joy and peace 00:37:59.110 --> 00:38:03.650 and love and hope and satisfaction in this life. 00:38:03.960 --> 00:38:06.800 Just like Abraham. Why do we need to understand 00:38:06.800 --> 00:38:11.980 this? Because expectations matter, especially 00:38:11.980 --> 00:38:18.579 for pilgrims. Do you understand that how we view 00:38:18.579 --> 00:38:21.800 the world around us has implications on how we 00:38:21.800 --> 00:38:27.000 live in the world in which we walk? What we expect 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:32.239 of this world will impact how we live in this 00:38:32.239 --> 00:38:40.920 world. We are pilgrims. We don't belong here. 00:38:43.179 --> 00:38:47.800 Our faith is tied up with the consummation of 00:38:47.800 --> 00:38:53.860 the ages at the return of Jesus Christ. So just 00:38:53.860 --> 00:38:56.900 as Abraham was a pilgrim, brothers and sisters, 00:38:57.059 --> 00:39:02.960 we are pilgrims. But listen, this is a good thing. 00:39:04.559 --> 00:39:07.039 Because that means there is that which is better 00:39:07.039 --> 00:39:09.920 to come, that which is best to come. But it also 00:39:09.920 --> 00:39:12.079 means, brothers and sisters, that we understand 00:39:12.079 --> 00:39:16.039 how to fully and rightly enjoy this world and 00:39:16.039 --> 00:39:20.340 the things of this world. By keeping things in 00:39:20.340 --> 00:39:24.820 their proper place. If we recognize eternal things 00:39:24.820 --> 00:39:29.760 and Christ's invisible kingdom, and we recognize 00:39:29.760 --> 00:39:32.500 the temporal nature and character of the things 00:39:32.500 --> 00:39:36.219 of this world, then we can rightly enjoy the 00:39:36.219 --> 00:39:39.039 temporal and earthly things in this world. But, 00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:42.679 if we make those temporal and earthly things 00:39:42.679 --> 00:39:45.619 more than they ought to be, more than what they 00:39:45.619 --> 00:39:49.460 are, then brothers and sisters, you will no longer 00:39:49.460 --> 00:39:55.800 enjoy them. They will rule over you. Everything 00:39:55.800 --> 00:39:59.159 in its proper place, brothers and sisters. We 00:39:59.159 --> 00:40:02.599 are sojourners. And what's the biggest struggle 00:40:02.599 --> 00:40:06.119 we have? As we pilgrim in this world. I know 00:40:06.119 --> 00:40:09.719 what my biggest problem is. I hope you know what 00:40:09.719 --> 00:40:16.440 yours is. It's my heart. It's your biggest problem 00:40:16.440 --> 00:40:22.559 as you sojourn. Your own heart. Because that's 00:40:22.559 --> 00:40:26.960 the struggle of the sojourner, isn't it? Not 00:40:26.960 --> 00:40:31.820 to let your heart grasp. Too firmly and too tightly 00:40:31.820 --> 00:40:36.559 to the things of this world? It wants to, brothers 00:40:36.559 --> 00:40:40.900 and sisters. It does. It wants to reach out and 00:40:40.900 --> 00:40:43.360 lay hold of them. It wants to find its joy and 00:40:43.360 --> 00:40:45.739 its satisfaction and its hope in the things of 00:40:45.739 --> 00:40:50.619 this world. But don't you let it. It will strip 00:40:50.619 --> 00:40:54.820 you of joy. Brothers and sisters, set your hearts, 00:40:54.840 --> 00:40:59.429 set your affections. On Jesus Christ and the 00:40:59.429 --> 00:41:03.190 promises in Jesus Christ. That which is lasting. 00:41:04.090 --> 00:41:08.489 That which is eternal. That which remains. That 00:41:08.489 --> 00:41:12.650 which is to come. Brothers and sisters. That's 00:41:12.650 --> 00:41:16.110 the never ending struggle. Of the pilgrim in 00:41:16.110 --> 00:41:21.449 this life. Their own hearts desire. We have to 00:41:21.449 --> 00:41:25.909 live by faith. In this world. Just like Abraham 00:41:25.909 --> 00:41:28.659 did. But we also must remember, brothers and 00:41:28.659 --> 00:41:34.179 sisters, that we are being changed as we sojourn 00:41:34.179 --> 00:41:38.719 in this world. From the time we start our pilgrimage 00:41:38.719 --> 00:41:42.119 to the time we end our pilgrimage, we will be 00:41:42.119 --> 00:41:46.039 completely different. Do you understand that, 00:41:46.099 --> 00:41:49.900 brothers and sisters? If you are in Christ Jesus, 00:41:50.300 --> 00:41:55.389 you will not be the same at the start. of your 00:41:55.389 --> 00:41:58.849 journey with Christ, at your regeneration, as 00:41:58.849 --> 00:42:01.650 you are at the end of your journey with Christ. 00:42:02.150 --> 00:42:05.369 You will be transformed from glory to glory. 00:42:05.510 --> 00:42:10.190 You will be renewed inwardly day by day by the 00:42:10.190 --> 00:42:13.789 Spirit of God. You'll be transformed, brothers 00:42:13.789 --> 00:42:17.530 and sisters. You'll be made into the likeness 00:42:17.530 --> 00:42:20.469 and image of Jesus Christ in your inner man. 00:42:20.969 --> 00:42:25.719 You'll be changing as you... Pilgrim through 00:42:25.719 --> 00:42:28.960 this world. And ultimately we have to understand 00:42:28.960 --> 00:42:33.739 and we have to recognize that our sojourning 00:42:33.739 --> 00:42:40.239 will come to an end. Brothers and sisters, we're 00:42:40.239 --> 00:42:44.559 only pilgrims for so long. The day is coming 00:42:44.559 --> 00:42:52.199 when we will enjoy and experience our true home. 00:42:54.349 --> 00:42:59.110 The day is coming when we will rest in the presence 00:42:59.110 --> 00:43:03.730 of our Lord. The day is coming, brothers and 00:43:03.730 --> 00:43:07.929 sisters, when your heart will no longer be inclined 00:43:07.929 --> 00:43:14.920 to sin and corruption. The day is coming, brothers 00:43:14.920 --> 00:43:17.920 and sisters, when your heart will no longer long 00:43:17.920 --> 00:43:21.099 for those things in this world, but it will long 00:43:21.099 --> 00:43:24.559 rightly for the glory of God and the presence 00:43:24.559 --> 00:43:28.619 of Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters, our sojourning 00:43:28.619 --> 00:43:31.219 is only for a time. It's only for a period. The 00:43:31.219 --> 00:43:34.320 day is coming when we will walk on the ground 00:43:34.320 --> 00:43:37.480 of a new heavens and a new earth. We will breathe 00:43:37.480 --> 00:43:42.239 the air. Of a glorified cosmos, brothers and 00:43:42.239 --> 00:43:45.559 sisters. That is the world that is prepared for 00:43:45.559 --> 00:43:48.360 His people. That is the world that is prepared 00:43:48.360 --> 00:43:53.760 for all those in Jesus Christ. Put your affections 00:43:53.760 --> 00:43:57.800 on that, brothers and sisters. Realize that life 00:43:57.800 --> 00:44:03.159 is but a vapor. It's very short. It comes and 00:44:03.159 --> 00:44:05.949 it goes. Rather quickly. And some of us tend 00:44:05.949 --> 00:44:08.670 to say that more often than others. As we age. 00:44:09.989 --> 00:44:12.449 Because it's an ever present truth. Isn't it 00:44:12.449 --> 00:44:18.670 brothers and sisters? That time flies. Before 00:44:18.670 --> 00:44:23.210 you know it. You're almost 40 years old. Before 00:44:23.210 --> 00:44:25.090 you know it. You're a little older than that. 00:44:26.849 --> 00:44:28.889 But brothers and sisters. You know what that 00:44:28.889 --> 00:44:33.250 means? It's teaching us. That there's a permanent. 00:44:34.159 --> 00:44:37.460 There's an eternal home that will not cease, 00:44:37.780 --> 00:44:43.800 that will not end, where we will not age, and 00:44:43.800 --> 00:44:47.239 where we will always be with our Lord and our 00:44:47.239 --> 00:44:50.519 Savior, our God, and we will be with all our 00:44:50.519 --> 00:44:54.820 brothers and sisters for all eternity. Brothers 00:44:54.820 --> 00:44:57.659 and sisters, those of you here in Jesus Christ 00:44:57.659 --> 00:45:01.139 right now who truly, genuinely know Him by faith 00:45:01.139 --> 00:45:05.010 and repentance, We will lock arms and worship 00:45:05.010 --> 00:45:08.710 Christ for all eternity in the new heavens and 00:45:08.710 --> 00:45:13.389 the new earth. That is our hope which is to come. 00:45:14.210 --> 00:45:18.730 That is the promise that Abraham received. And 00:45:18.730 --> 00:45:21.050 brothers and sisters, that is the promise that 00:45:21.050 --> 00:45:24.510 we have in Jesus Christ because of His blessed 00:45:24.510 --> 00:45:29.289 word. Praise be to the name of our great God 00:45:29.289 --> 00:45:30.670 and our great Savior.