How can you become mindful of end-time events? How can you become aware of your eternal destiny and let that impact your life appropriately here on earth?
Hebrews 11:13 shows us how our fathers in the faith handled this question:
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.
The first time I read this verse, I was puzzled. “Wait a minute. These faith heroes died without receiving the promises. But isn’t that what faith is, receiving the promises of God?”
Then it occurred to me that these people had received the promises I was thinking about. God‘s promises of provision and health had certainly been realized in their lives. Abraham was the richest man of his day, lived to be over 170 years old, and fathered children at the age of 130. These promises had certainly become reality in his life.
What promises hadn’t they received yet?
The rest of the verse provides our answer. They saw the promises afar off, were persuaded of them, embraced them, and “confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”
These faith heroes understood that their destinies transcended this earthly life. Their lives on earth were just an eye blink, only short seasons in the eternal scheme of things. Verses 14-16 continue:
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for He hath prepared for them a city.
These people knew they were strangers on this earth. They knew they had destinies that were not bound by time or geographical limitation. They understood that their destinies weren’t earthbound, and therefore, they considered themselves strangers. That’s what made them faith heroes.
How did they do this? I think a key phrase is “if they had been mindful.” If they had been mindful of this temporal world, they could have become inhabitants of it instead of acting as strangers and pilgrims looking for a better home. They, instead, were mindful of and thinking about their heavenly home.
The same is true today. What you are mindful of creates a desire within you. If you are intensely mindful of what is going on in the world and your biggest reality is bound by natural life as defined by CNN or Fox News, then you will live in that world. That will be your big picture.
On the other hand, if you become more and more mindful of God’s picture and God’s eternal purpose for you, that desire begins to supersede your desire to go to the football game, your desire to go flying or play golf. It keeps you focused on God and on seeking His plan for your life.
Recognize you are a stranger in this life. Dream about ruling and reigning with Jesus. See yourself walking out His plan both on earth and in eternity, and you’ll ultimately find yourself taking steps in that direction.
Living Right in These Last Days
It is truly is an honor to be a part of this generation. (I guarantee you, some of the Old Testament saints are looking over that balcony rail of heaven right now who would love to live in the day we’re living!) We get to see the culmination of all things that have been prophesied regarding the redemptive work of our Lord. We get to see the close of the church age.
The fact that you are living at this point in time is not a coincidence or a mistake. God knows your gifts and talents and has a specific purpose for you to fulfill. You’ve been entrusted with significant responsibilities that no one else can accomplish the same way you can.
And that’s why I encourage you to take time to think about the things I’ve laid out. Imagine the possibilities. See yourself walking out the call of God on your life and living out a bright future of ruling and reigning with Jesus!
Mac and Lynne Hammond are senior pastors of Living Word in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, which they started in 1980. Many outreaches and ministries have launched from Living Word since that time, including Maranatha Christian Academy, a Pre-K through grade 12 school with nearly 900 in attendance, and Living Free Recovery Services, a licensed outpatient treatment program.
Most recently, Mac and Lynne have launched a vision to plant fifty churches across the globe in the next five years. As of August 2024, nine churches have been planted in the Dominican Republic, Ireland, Venezuela, Bolivia, Colombia, and Guatemala with construction underway for seven more churches in El Salvador, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Prior to becoming a pastor, Mac was a pilot. He served in the Air Force, served two tours of duty in Southeast Asia, and was honorably discharged in 1970 with the rank of Captain. Between 1970 and 1980, Mac was involved in varying capacities in the general aviation industry, including ownership of a successful air cargo business serving the Midwestern United States. A business acquisition brought the Hammonds to Minneapolis, where they ultimately founded Living Word. Currently, Mac is the host of The Winner’s Way and The Winner’s Minute broadcasts and the author of several internationally distributed books. Mac is broadly acclaimed for his ability to apply the principles of the Bible to practical situations and the challenges of daily living.