Keep Looking Up

By Paul Chappell

"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."

Hebrews 11:8-10

For her birthday celebration, one of the things my grandmother wanted was for us to sing some of her favorite songs. Her requests revealed a lot about the things that mattered to her. Why did she want to hear "I've Got a Mansion Just Over the Hilltop"? Because her heart was fixed on Heaven. The interests and affections that filled her heart governed the things that she loved.

The story of Abraham is a story of great faith. This Old Testament saint did not have the Scriptures to guide him, but he believed the promises of God and radically altered his entire life to obey what God told him to do. Our faith is not found in our declaration of allegiance to God, but in our obedience to Him. Abraham was willing to leave behind everything to obey God because he was seeking an eternal reward.

Too often the busyness of life can get our eyes off of the goal. Once we are distracted from our calling and purpose, it is easy for us to be turned aside from the right path and stop obeying God. Hebrews 12:2 urges us to run the race of life with focus: "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith." The concerns and cares of the world around us are temporary; the city of gold that God has prepared for those who love Him is eternal.

Today's Rooted Principle:

We have not yet seen the great things God has in store for us, but through faith we can persevere until we do.