Faith's Focus

Hebrews 11:8-10

“By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”

For the first time I am seeing the focus of Abraham’s faith as he answered the call of God to leave his father’s house and moved from place to place, he was looking for a city whose builder and maker is God.  That city is

heaven. This sounds like Hebrews 12:2

Hebrews 12:2

“… who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

This tells you the first focus of faith is heaven. Let me sound this loud and clear: THE FIRST FOCUS OF A LIFE OF FAITH IS HEAVEN.

Colossians 3:1-3 (Living Bible)

“Since you became alive again, so to speak, when Christ arose from the dead, now set your sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven where he sits beside God in the place of honor and power.  Let heaven fill your thoughts; don't spend your time worrying about things down here. You should have as little desire for this world as a dead person does. Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God.”

Why is this important to know? Living by faith has been misrepresented to mean living a life that is just consumed with the material things of the world, that is why people who are of the word of faith are called such names as “name it, claim it bunch”. But what does the Scripture say, it says since you have been made anew NOW set your sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven… This is the first focus of a person who is of faith, because your real life is in heaven with Christ and God.