Title: Hebrews 11:13-16 A Better Home
A better hometown (Hebrews 11:13-16)
The Chuseok holiday, which has been observed as a long tradition by the Korean people, has arrived. The origins of this festival can be found in the Samguk Sagi. During the reign of King Yuri of Silla, the six divisions were divided into two parts, and the two princesses became heads and started weaving from July 16th, and judged on the full moon in August. It is said that he sighed. It is said that Chuseok (秋夕) was called Chuseok (Chuseok) because Chinese people's words such as central (中秋), Tanabata (七夕), and Moonseok (月夕) were appropriately shortened when Chinese characters were used much later.
Chuseok is a good season. Under the rising early autumn sky, five grains are ripe and reliable fruits are abundant. On this merry holiday, we remember our ancestors and honor their spirits by visiting their graves and making burials. And I miss my hometown from which I left, and feel the emptiness and futility of life as a stranger.
What does it mean that life is like a stranger?
One). Life means living with a stranger in the world for a while and then leaving. According to the Bible, life is a being who leaves the hometown of heaven (the kingdom of God) and lives in this world as a stranger for a while, then leaves this earth and returns to the hometown of heaven. Therefore, this world is an eternal dwelling place. We are strangers who live in this world for a while and then leave.
2). It also means that life is short-lived.
There is a Chinese character that says, 'In the years of long life, the elderly'. The passing years are long and leisurely, but it means that a person's life is as fleeting as the dew on the grass.
There is a saying, 'Today's red eyes, tomorrow's white bones'. It means that today's pretty face will turn into white bones tomorrow.
What is your life anyway? “You are but a mist that appears for a moment and then vanishes” (James 4:14; Common Translation).
3). Life is a stranger means that when a person leaves the world, he has to leave everything behind.
While we live in the world for a while, we can use all the facilities freely like a guest living in a good hotel. However, when a person goes to heaven, his hometown, after completing his life as a sojourner in this world, he cannot take any of those good things with him.
“We brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:7; Common Translation). Life is about coming empty-handed and returning empty-handed. Life is like a ephemera that rises in the morning, grows during the day, and dies at night. That's why they say life is like a stranger.
So, what does a stranger mean to live?
One). We must live with a better hometown (heaven) in mind (verse 15).
It means that he has always kept in mind his hometown (heaven), which will unfold soon after death, rather than the whole world. We see a lot of people who work hard day and night thinking that this world is everything. Those who live with their hometown in mind will not need to plan as meticulously as they do to live on this earth for a thousand or ten thousand years, and they do not need to be overly sensitive to success or failure in this world. Even if you are faced with a rather pitiful reality, there is no reason to be overly irritated. The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 7:31, "The signs of this world will soon pass away."
Building a new house and earning a lot of money to grow your bank account is a real joy. It is also very meaningful to cherish and strive for a better education for our children. It is definitely desirable to emigrate to a distant land, take root in difficult circumstances, and make dreams and thrifty plans for the future. However, it is important to keep in mind that there is a separate "hometown to return to". You should always keep this in mind.
The story of a 51-year-old Chinese doctor (kidney specialist) living in California left me with something to think about. He lived only to enjoy saving and multiplying money. His daily routine had to pay attention to fluctuations in the stock market, and naturally, when he went to a party, conversations with his friends would also focus on 'making a lot of money'. He bought several acres of barren land that looked promising. Five years later, one day, I was lucky enough to build a highway, and I got a windfall in which the land I bought for tens of thousands of dollars could be sold for millions of dollars. He rejoices over the enormous amount of money he has, and every day must have been filled with dreams for more fortune. However, it is a true story that he died of a heart attack just a few days after gaining such a fortune, without ever being able to spend that much money splendidly. Money should be spent on good things.
It is said that the Egyptians had a custom of putting a dead and decaying skeleton on the corner of a table in a banquet hall. This is to remind us that no matter how much we eat and drink happily now, we too will have to become like these skeletons someday.
2). We must find a better hometown and live (verse 16).
Where's a better hometown? In Hebrews 11:16 of the Bible, it says, "Now they long for a better homeland, which is in heaven."
There is such a story. The sun was setting when Gamsatgat, a wandering poet, came to one place. There was a large house like a palace in the same town, so I asked him to rest for one night, but the owner refused to go to the guesthouse across the street, as this is not an inn. At that time, Satgat Kim asked, how many generations live in this big house? Yes, I have lived for 16 generations. Are those 16 survivors? That's all passed away. Then you too will live, so let's take a break for just one night in the same situation as you and a stranger. So we took a break together.
Because life is a stranger who has left home (heaven), it is always painful, anxious, anxious, lonely, and unstable. Everyone in this world is a stranger wherever they go (1 Peter 2:11, Leviticus 25:23, 1 Chronicles 29:15, Psalm 39:12; 119:19, 54, Genesis 47:9) It's not something to do.
Whenever a traveler enters a hotel room, he/she will use the lodging system. I slept for 10 nights in the US, Israel, Egypt, various European countries, and China the other day, and I have to use the lodging system there too.
First, where are you from? (Hometown) Second, what did you come here for now? (Yongmu) Third, where will you go tomorrow? (destination) is recorded.
Where is my next destination? Theologian Richard Niebuhr, in his book "The Meaning of Revelation," said, "We believers are immigrants to the kingdom of God through Jesus."
We definitely came here and are passing by now. And you must go somewhere (heaven/hell). Isn't the place to go now to go home by train to heaven (homecoming)?
Like pilgrims, we are now walking step by step on the path of pilgrimage that leads to the holy destination called "The Kingdom of God."
The pilgrim's journey is full of adversity, tribulations, and trials. Sometimes you have to climb over high mountains ahead, through steep valleys, and through raging waves and storms. Sometimes we have to walk through the Valley of Tears (Psalm 84:6) with a sigh, “Why did you come here?” However, we should only look forward and walk towards the next destination (heaven) without looking back. No matter how high the waves swell and the fierce winds blow, you should only row forward. No matter how high the mountain is, no matter how deep the valley is, you have to look upwards only. Then, finally, the pilgrim arrives at the heavenly destination (destination) of glory.
Like the Israelites who left Egypt, crossed the Red Sea like land, and walked on a pilgrimage in the wilderness for 40 years, they will finally arrive at the final destination called “Canaan.” Where is my final destination? This is the welfare of Canaan (Heaven). It flows with milk and honey, but it overflows with abundance. It is infinitely beautiful (Rev 21:2), abundant to eat, and is a pollution-free area (Rev 22:1-3), a splendid city adorned with all kinds of jewels (Rev 21:11-27), and there is no human sorrow including death. It is a place where God exists (Rev 21:4) and shows infinite love (Rev 22:3-4).
Until we reach the final destination, I pray that you do not become discouraged, do not become discouraged, do not fall, and follow the will of God's word, step by step, together in any adversity and trial. - Amen -