These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:13-16 ESV

Hebrews 11 is a well known chapter in the Bible listing what many collectively call the “hall of faith”. Looking upon the faith of those described in this chapter, there can be a tendency to focus on them and comparing our faith to theirs. But there is an important focus of their faith that is not highlighted much, and it is vital. Though their faith is commendable, each mentioned prior to verse 13 recognized that they were strangers, sojourners in a foreign land. This was not an earthly inheritance but an eternal inheritance. They looked toward a heavenly country, a heavenly city. They were looking to eternity with God. If we can learn anything about the faith of these men and women listed in Hebrews 11, it is this very thing. We are to be sojourners on an eternal pilgrimage, longing for eternity with God.

According to the Bible Believer’s Commentary and these verses in Hebrews, “They did not live to see the fulfillment of the divine promises. They realized this world was not their home. They were content to be strangers and pilgrims refusing the urge to make themselves comfortable. Their desire was to pass through the world without taking any of its character upon themselves. Their hearts were set on pilgrimage.” A pilgrim is one who journeys to a sacred place of religious significance. As Christians, our pilgrimage is to eternity with Christ. We are not of this world. This world is not our inheritance nor our home. We have been promised eternal life in Christ. It should not be a morbid thing to long for eternity with Him. There is an aching spiritually to see Him glorified and to be in perfect fellowship with Him. When many people speak of heaven, the focus is on a family reunion. Many tout stories of visiting heaven and wondrous sights and such. Yet eternity is not so much about the longing of a place as it is the Person occupying that place. Our longing should be focused on Him and nothing or no one else.

Hebrews 11 is not meant to be a hall of idolatry but rather to learn from their example of being a sojourner in a foreign land. We, like them, are permanent strangers in this world when we receive Christ as our Lord and Savior. In both Luke 9:58 and Matthew 8:20, Jesus responds to those who want to follow Him, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” Jesus shows us what it means to be a sojourner in a land that is not the desired resting place. Psalm 84 is a beautiful psalm describing that longing in the eternal pilgrimage, speaking of the highways to Zion found in the hearts of those strengthened by God. It goes to say that those same people appear before God in Zion. Is this not the longing of our being, to appear before God and to spend eternity with Him? David sums it up well when he sings these words to God, “One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.” (Psalm 27:4)

What a beautiful promise of eternity we have as adopted sons and believers in Christ! We are strangers in this world as citizens of heaven. We are to be pilgrims venturing toward our heavenly home while sharing the good news and seeing others coming to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. The Word of God ensures and encourages us of such promises. We have eternal promises of unbroken fellowship with Him, unhindered worship unto Him. He is the One we long to see. Paul spoke of laying hold of Christ and of heaven. He got the revelation of what the upward call truly meant. It was gaining Christ Jesus. He reminds the Philippians, “Our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (Philippians 3:20)

Why speak of eternity? Why talk of this pilgrimage? It is simple: we forget. We are busy and distracted in this rat race of life or ministry, and we lack the longing for Him in eternity. This does not mean that we do not love our families or others. It is not a state of depression and wishing to shorten one’s life. It is an awareness in our spirit that we were made for Him. We were made to worship Him and to glorify Him. We can worship Him in these earthly tents while on this earth, and all the while, there is a heightened urgency of this eternal pilgrimage, an inward groaning as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. (Romans 8:23) It is an overwhelming thing to think of finishing our eternal pilgrimage and being with God in the splendor of His holiness. This is our reason for existing, and while we await the redemption of these tents, let us rejoice in this, “Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” (Revelation 19:9)

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