The Promise Of A Better Country

"They desire a better country." 

These words dominate the references to men of faith in Hebrews 11. Is that not true for all of us? We all desire a better country, a place where a man can grow old without fear, anxiety and conflict. We desire a country where a 10-month baby is not burned to death after her father murders her mother and then commits suicide by setting the house afire and shooting himself as well. We desire a country where teens do not have to resort to drug selling after being convinced there is no chance of ever getting a better job. We desire a better country without racism, poverty, violence in our homes and on the streets. We desire a country where God is worshipped by all, His laws are observed, where justice is practiced, where men are fed, clothed and cared for together. We desire a country where death no longer rules. We desire a country better called heaven!

The whole chapter is filled with people who dreamed of a better country, a true homeland, that is, a heavenly one (Hebrews 11:16).

• Abraham believed in such a country filled with his innumerable descendants (Gen. 22:1-12)
• Isaac promised such future blessings to his sons Jacob and Esau (Gen. 27:27-40)
• Jacob, when dying, blessed each of the sons of Joseph (Gen. 48:5-22)
• Joseph believed that his people would return to the land of promise and gave directions concerning his bones (Gen. 50:24-25)
• Moses' parents hid him for three months and were not afraid of the king's edict (Exod. 2:1-2)
• Moses in his maturity refused to be called the royal son of Pharaoh's daughter (Exod. 2:10-15)
• Moses and his people kept the Passover, sprinkling blood on the lintels of their doors so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them (Exod 12:3-30)
• The Children of Israel crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, believing that the LORD led them (Exod. 14:13-15:21)
• After wandering for 40 years in the Sinai wilderness they crossed the Jordan and, after marching around Jericho for 40 days, the walls fell down (Joshua 6:3-20)
• Rahab the prostitute did not perish with Jericho because she protected the Israeli spies (Joshua 2:1-22; 6:23-25)

And so it goes, with one reference after another to the acts of faith recorded in Holy Scriptures and referred to in this wondrous chapter. There are more examples, but as the writer says, 

And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophet—who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated-- of whom the world was not worthy--wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth. - Hebrews 11:32-38 ESV

All of these people walked in faith, desiring and believing in a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Many have sought unsuccessfully to create such a country by human means. We have had one political or popular leader after another. Name them: dictators, heroes, kings, prophets, senators, revolutionaries—on and on. And what do we have for all the promises, wars and bloodshed? Essentially the same old, tired, warring, bitter, dying world we have always had.

Even the men and women of faith did not receive the better country, but they believed in it nevertheless, believed in the promises of God. And then one day a star began to shine and some very wise men followed it and knelt down before a small child, believing that finally the better country would soon be found.