They Saw The Promises Afar Off

-November 16, 2025-

Good morning beloved, happy Lord’s Day,

“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

(Hebrews 11:13).

Hebrews chapter 11 is all about faith. In fact, the word faith is found 19 times! Often this chapter is called, “The Hall of Faith.”

The writer points out the faith of Abel, Enoch, Moses, Abraham, Sarah, Issac, Jacob, Joseph, Rahab, Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, and Samuel. All these had faith in the Lord and His promises, though they saw them afar off. They embraced them.

We as believers in the Age of Grace, now have the fulfillment of those precious promises. They were living before the cross, we are living after the cross. Many promises are yet future for us as well.

Can you imagine if they knew what we know today of the salvation by grace through faith? It is like looking at something far down the road. One can see something is there but he or she can’t quite make it out.

Our is faith is based on the whole of the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation. As we know, the OT explains the NT and the NT explains the OT. It all fits together perfectly.

We are awaiting the coming of the Lord which know will happen, but we don’t know the day nor the hour.

Just as the OT saints considered themselves pilgrims and strangers, we are today as well. We live in the world but we are not of the world. We walk by faith, not by sight. (See 2 Corinthians 5:7). Our lives on this earth are short and temporary; our lives in heaven will be infinite and eternal.

Have a blessed Lord’s Day. Stay safe and healthy.

As the hymn says, “…Looking to Jesus till glory doth shine; moment by moment O Lord, Thou art mine.”

Dean