Let's Go Back to the Bible

Confess by word and by deed

Hebrews 11 is that great chapter of faith, which highlights great Bible heroes of the Old Testament, who were (and are) great Bible heroes because of their great faith in God. In the midst of this great roll call is this wonderful declaration, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, 2019-08-07-Confess-by-word-and-by-deedembraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth” (11:13). Focus on that last part: they “confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”

They obviously “knew” and “understood” that they were temporary residents of the earth. That’s not a hard thing to realize. But this says that they “confessed” the fact that they were temporary residents. How? In two ways, no doubt. (1) In word, they must have talked of how “this world is not our home.” (2) In action, they must have lived like “I’m just a passing through.” So, the question is, do we? Do we–in word and action–confess that we are here on this early only temporarily? You won’t talk and live “like everybody else,” if you do.