“These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.” Hebrews 11:13, 14
We live in a glorious land of incredibly diverse beauty! From the vast mountain peaks of the Canadian Rockies to the red sands of Prince Edward Island, beauty is around every bend in the Trans-Canada highway. And this weekend, we celebrate the 150th birthday of our glorious Canada! And it is right and fitting that we celebrate and thank God for the incredible privilege of living in this glorious country, with all the blessings and freedoms that we enjoy! And yet as we face the gradual erosion of our liberties, and witness the relentless pursuit of godlessness by our political leaders, our hearts ache and long for a better homeland. Indeed we, like Abraham and the other heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11, are but strangers and exiles on this earth, pilgrims on the path to a far better, eternal homeland!!
Though the patriarchs of old did not receive the things promised, yet they were enabled by faith to see those treasures, and they greeted them from afar. May God help us to see with the eyes of faith His eternal riches that far exceed the passing pleasures of this world. And having seen those realities, may God help us to live our lives more focused on His glory, willing even to suffer for His name’s sake, so that all of us may continue to grow in being the light and the salt, exactly where God has uniquely placed each one of us, within this great nation of Canada!
Happy Canada Day!