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(II Cor. 4: 17, 18). While Abraham is not mentioned in II Cor. 4:, we have but to read
on into chapter 5: 1, 2 to find the "tent" contrasted with the "building of God in the
heavens", exactly as we have the "tent" and "the city" of God in Heb. 11: Without
resurrection, Heb. 11: 13 would surely read, "These all died in despair, not having
received the promises". When one hears children of God "claiming" here and now all
sorts of blessings because of the victory of Calvary, one wonders what the effect of this
passage suddenly brought home by the Spirit of God would be. Do we not see that faith
can contentedly go without rather than "claim" all now, simply because faith has to do
with resurrection and new life? How many children of God press the question of bodily
healing on these lines! They teach and believe that, had we all sufficient faith, sickness
among saints would be unknown. Why they do not pursue this to its logical conclusion
and say that, were there Sufficient faith among saints, death would be unknown, we
cannot tell, except it be that facts are too stubborn. Christ has not purchased for the saint
either immunity from sickness or from death; He does give "the power of His
resurrection" now, and He will give incorruptible life after this present life has been laid
down.
These saints of God, who according to faith died not having received the promises
were not thereby rendered miserable; they "embraced" or "saluted" these far-off
promises, and patiently waited that good time when their inheritance could be enjoyed
unspoiled by sin and death.
Tent and city.
The outward symbol of the pilgrim is the tent. Before this epistle closes the apostle
presses this fact upon the Hebrews in very solemn terms:
"Wherefore Jesus also . . . . . suffered without the gate. Let us go forth therefore unto
Him without the camp, bearing His reproach. For here have we NO CONTINUING
CITY, but we SEEK one to come" (Heb. 13: 12-14).
Christ Himself is a stranger in this world. The only dwelling place of God that
Hebrews mentions is a "tent" or "tabernacle". Not until the new heavens and new earth,
wherein dwells righteousness, shall come, will it be right for "tent" and "city" to come
together (Rev. 21: 2, 3). Heb. 12: 27, 28 stresses this same truth. The unshaken
kingdom "abides", and is closely connected with the "heavenly Jerusalem" (12: 22). This
"prepared" city that "abides" is seen in John 14: 2, 3 "In My Father's house are many
abiding places . . . . . I go to prepare a place for you". And just as the Lord reveals
Himself in John 14: 6 as "the true and living Way", so in Heb. 10: 20 He is revealed as
"the new and living way", while John 1: 14 tells us that "the Word was made flesh and
tabernacled among us".
Are the saints of God alone to exercise patience? Is not God Himself called "the God
of patience" and "the God of hope" in Rom. 15: 5 and 13? Is not Christ spoken of as
"henceforth expecting" (Heb. 10: 13)? and shall we therefore murmur that our inheritance
is not yet here? Members of the Body of Christ would do well to remember that, though
"blessed with all spiritual blessings", those blessings are "in the heavenlies in Christ",