Hebrews 11:13–16 “People Who Belong to Another Homeland”

Hebrews 11:13-16 NIV

Suggested Praise Songs:

• You Are My All In All | Maranatha! Music
• Chris Tomlin – All the Way My Savior Leads Me
• Elevation Worship – O Come to the Altar

Resources for Family Worship (with Children):

• Is Heaven for Real? | Bible Story | LifeKids – Lesson for Kids
• Big House – Song for Kids
• Heaven is a wonderful place filled with Glory and Grace Kids youth worship praise – Song for Kids
• I’ve got the joy joy joy joy down in my heart – Song for Kids
• Discussion Questions for Children & Youth located in the section after Explanation, Meditation, and Prayer (at the end of this email/blog).

Explanation:

The author, referring to Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah, says, “All these people were still living by faith when they died” (v.13). Although verse 5 says, “Enoch did not experience death; he was taken up to heaven,” it is still true that his earthly life came to an end. During their lifetimes, they “did not receive the things promised” (eternal life in the kingdom of God). They only “saw them and welcomed them from a distance.” The word “welcomed” is added to emphasize that they waited with a deep longing.

To live with hope and expectation for the kingdom of God is essentially to confess that we are “foreigners and strangers on earth.” Saying, “I am a foreigner and a stranger,” is the same as declaring, “My true home is not here, but elsewhere” (v.14).

If the phrase “my home is elsewhere” referred to the place where they were born and raised, then “they would have had opportunity to return” (v.15). But the homeland they were thinking of was not their place of origin—it was the place they were going. That place is “a better country—a heavenly one” (v.16). They were longing for the kingdom of God, where they would dwell forever.

Because of their deep longing and earnest hope for the kingdom of God, “God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” The five individuals mentioned earlier were not morally perfect or ethically blameless. From a human perspective, they did not possess any particularly outstanding qualities compared to others. And yet, God was not ashamed to be called their God. Why? Because they believed in His existence and trusted that He would reward those who earnestly sought Him.

Meditation:

The very word “hometown” brings a sense of comfort and rest. While some may avoid thinking about it due to negative experiences, most people deeply long for their hometown. For immigrants like me, that longing is even stronger. Whenever we visit our homeland, we hope to stop by our hometown, even briefly.

But when we visit, we often find that it doesn’t satisfy us the way we expected. What we truly miss about our hometown isn’t the house or the fields, but the love we shared with our parents, siblings, and childhood friends, many of whom are no longer there. Gil Jae’s old saying, “The mountains and rivers remain unchanged, but the people are gone,” feels all too real.

As we grow older, our thoughts of a “hometown to return to” often turn into thoughts of a “hometown to go toward.” The emptiness we feel when we revisit our earthly hometown only deepens our longing for our heavenly one. The yearning for our parents who have passed on also leads us to hope for “a better country.” In such moments, we realize, “Truly, I am a foreigner and a stranger on this earth!” We come to understand that we are living temporarily in a tent, for a short while, during the time God has allowed us. Life on this earth prepares us for eternal life in the kingdom of God. If the years we spend here are like eating an appetizer, then eternal life in God’s kingdom is like enjoying the main course.

The person who lives with this understanding and faith can live the life of a stranger on earth with true meaning and fullness. It would be foolish to neglect the appetizer simply because one is eager for the main dish. In fact, the greater our anticipation for the main course, the more we savor and appreciate the appetizer. Likewise, those who believe in, long for, and expect the eternal blessings of God’s kingdom will be more faithful in the everyday tasks given to them on earth. Though they live in this world, they are conscious of their identity as citizens of God’s kingdom, and so they live a distinct life—a “set apart life.” That is the right way for people from another homeland to live in this world.

Prayer:

Lord, thank You for revealing to us and helping us believe in the eternal homeland You have promised. We also thank You for opening the way to that true home through the cross. During the time You have granted us on this earth, help us to long for our eternal home and to live distinct lives as citizens of Your kingdom. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Discussion Questions for Children & Youth:

Key Point: We are not home yet. God has promised us a better, eternal home in His Kingdom. Even though we live in this world, we belong to God and are called to live as His people—different, hopeful, and full of faith—while we wait for our true home in heaven.

• For Preschool-Elementary
  • What do you like most about your home?
  • How do you think God’s home in heaven might be different?
  • What does it mean to live like a child of God, even if we are waiting for heaven?
• For Youth
  • Why do you think people long for “home,” especially when they feel lost or lonely?
  • What does it mean to be a citizen of heaven while still living on earth?
  • What does a “set apart” life look like in your school, relationships, or future goals?