August 10, 2025

Home Home Sweet Home

Pastor Rok Lee

Hebrews 11:8-16

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to set out for a place that he was to receive as an inheritance, and he set out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he stayed for a time in the land he had been promised, as in a foreign land, living in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he looked forward to the city that has foundations, whose architect and builder is God. 11 By faith, with Sarah’s involvement, he received power of procreation, even though he was too old, because he considered him faithful who had promised. 12 Therefore from one person, and this one as good as dead, descendants were born, “as many as the stars of heaven and as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore.” 13 All of these died in faith without having received the promises, but from a distance they saw and greeted them. They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, 14 for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of the land that they had left behind, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better homeland, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; indeed, he has prepared a city for them.

Everyone dreams of a better life. Rather than being content with the present, we hope to live in a slightly better place. Recently, I came across a news story about a North Korean defector. She was so severely hungry that her only wish was to eat her fill. She said, "death was even better than starvation." To escape this situation, she decided to defect with her mother and younger sister. Since she would die whether by starvation or a bullet, she took a step that risked her life. After crossing the river with her family, they barely made it to China. Finally, after a nine-year journey, she arrived in South Korea and said, "For the first time in a long time, I found the courage to have hope."

Just like in this story, the hope we have for our unseen future also requires courage and determination. Hebrews 11 shows us such an example of faith. From verses 8 to 16, it testifies to the journey of faith pioneers, including Abraham, who lived looking toward the unseen Promised Land. Hebrews 11:16 says, "But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one." Today's scripture emphasizes the importance of faith that hopes not for life on this earth, but for our true home in heaven. Through today’s passage, we will see how our faith life should change.

First, obedience begins with faith. Today's passage tells the story of Abraham's obedience to God's call to leave for an unknown land. The text records: "By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land... for he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God."

Abraham believed that he would one day receive the promised land as his inheritance, and he left even though he did not know the way. The original Greek for "by faith" signifies conviction and trust. Abraham firmly held on to this conviction—that is, the faithfulness of God—and took the step into the unknown land.

This is like buying a piece of land today without even seeing it, just trusting the word of the realtor. It would be a very foolish action. But today, the Bible calls this faith. You would buy the land without seeing it only because you have that much trust in the person. Abraham's faith in God was exactly like that. Abraham's obedience by faith means that he held on to the word of God and acted upon it.

This kind of faith applies to our lives today as well. Many people want to stay in their familiar, comfort zones. However, true faith trusts in God's guidance and leads us to leave our safe land and venture into unfamiliar territory.

Think about the story of the North Korean defector I mentioned at the beginning, who decided it was "better to get shot than to endure hunger" and crossed the river. In reality, people living in North Korea have no information about other countries. All internet and communication are controlled by their government, so they have no information about the outside world. Therefore, the mere expectation that the outside world will be happier is not enough to make them defect. They must have conviction, even without having seen or experienced it. They must have faith that a better life exists outside.

As Abraham showed, we too must have hope for the kingdom of God and be obedient to His call. Trust in God—that is, faith—is the conviction that overcomes uncertainty about the unknown. Let us believe in the promises given to us and, as strangers in this world, move forward toward the eternal home that God has prepared for us.

Second, we must hold on to God's faithful promises. Verses 11–12 show the power of God who fulfills His promises. The text says, "By faith Sarah herself received power to conceive, even when she was past the age, since she considered him faithful who had promised." This shows that God changed a seemingly impossible situation.

Sarah was able to have a child in her old age only because God faithfully fulfilled His promise. The Bible records, "she received power to conceive." This shows that the power came not from within Sarah, but was delivered to her from an external source. The power of God was in Sarah. It emphasizes that this miracle, which is not a common experience, was made possible by God's power. Because this promise was fulfilled, "from one man, Abraham, as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the grains of sand that are on the seashore." God faithfully fulfilled the promise He had made.

We, too, must hold on to such faithful promises of God. God is without lies and is always the same. That is why we can trust God’s promises. Think about buying something at a market. What if a vendor sells goods, but the quantity and price keep changing according to the vendor's whims? Could you trust that person and buy from them? If they sell the same item to one person for $5 and to another for $10, we cannot trust them. But God's word does not change. "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever" (Isaiah 40:8). Even if everything in the world changes, God's word and promises do not. When we hold on to this unchanging truth, we can dream of a better future.

Finally, we must have hope for our eternal home. Hebrews 11:13–16 states that the pioneers of faith lived as "foreigners and strangers" on this earth. In verse 13, they confessed, "They saw them and welcomed them from a distance, having confessed that they were foreigners and strangers on the earth." Both of these words indicate that they had no clear place of residence. They were people living without a home or a place of belonging.

Yet, if you think about it, God had promised them the land of Canaan as their inheritance, and they settled there. Still, the passage speaks this way to confess that this world was not their true dwelling place. Verse 14 says, "For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland." This shows that they longed for the true home that God had prepared, transcending life on this earth.

Verse 16 clearly declares that this true homeland is heaven. It is recorded, "But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one... for he has prepared for them a city." God has already prepared a city for us. This earth is not a place for us to settle down, but a journey for us to walk toward the kingdom of God as foreigners.

Sociologist Rubén G. Rumbaut refers to people who immigrated at an early age, before age five, as the "1.75 generation." He says that they are similar to people born and raised in that country but still experience cultural differences. Therefore, a complete assimilation is impossible.

Our identity and culture belong to the kingdom of God. Our way of life is not the same as the world's. While living on this earth, we experience cultural shock and sometimes feel uncomfortable. This is because we have a fundamentally different culture from the world's. Even amidst the difficulties and loneliness we face on this earth, we must not lose our longing for a better home. Rather, through that pain and sense of alienation, our earnestness for our true home will grow even stronger.

Conversely, the reason we long for our true home is because we suffer on this earth. We are strangers and foreigners here. But please remember that this place is where we only pass through briefly. We must live a life that is not about success here, but about being approved by God in our homeland.

Let me summarize here. Today's passage shows that Abraham and many pioneers of faith lived with an unseen hope. We, too, must resolve to live with strength, looking toward the home prepared for us through Christ. To do this, we must live a life of obedience born from our faith in God. We must also hold on to God's faithful promises. Finally, we must live a life different from the world's culture.

God has called us to our eternal home. Dear church, let us now move forward with conviction into the unknown future. If we build our hope on the rock of faith, God will surely fulfill His promises. Until we enter our true home from this journey as foreigners, I bless you in the name of the Lord to remain steadfast in faith.

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