GOD once promised to Abraham a land that he and his seed should have as an everlasting possession. Gen. 17:8.
Have Abraham and his seed yet received that land of promise? If they have not, they will surely receive it, as God's promises are true.
The Bible records of Abraham tell us that he lived as a stranger in tents all the days of his life. The promise was surely not fulfilled while he lived. The children of Israel did receive that land which was promised to them on earth, but they did not keep it as an everlasting possession. Because of disobedience to God they were scattered and their possessions taken from them. The land that they received can not possibly be the same which was promised to Abraham, since it was taken from them.
Abraham was faithful to his God. He trusted in Him, and was sure that all His promises would come true. He believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness, and he was called the friend of God. James 2:23. In Gal. 3:7, those that have faith are called the children of Abraham. This must surely mean the faithful of all ages—those that have faith in God and His promises, those that believe in Jesus as their Saviour. So the seed of Abraham, as mentioned in Gen. 17:8, must surely mean the righteous and faithful of all times. And the promise given to them has surely not been fulfilled yet.
Will the promise be fulfilled? Will the faithful servants of God receive the land which they should have as an everlasting possession?—They certainly will. God’s promises will not fail. They can not fail. They have never failed. Abraham still sleeps in the dust. He has yet to receive the reward of his righteousness. So have also the faithful of all the ages ever after. If we are faithful to God and believe in His promises, we will surely enter into that land of promise also.
When Jesus shall come the second time to gather His loved ones home, the promise given to Abraham long ago will surely be fulfilled. What a blessing it will be to meet God’s servants of all the ages! How joyful it will be to see them all, and to speak with them face to face! And how joyful it will be to meet our Saviour, who walked the thorny way that led to Calvary!
Are we getting ready for this event? Are we preparing ourselves to pass over the Jordan, and to go in and possess the land promised to Abraham and his seed? Are we helping others to prepare? The time is surely near at hand. God is telling us in His word to get ready. He has given us signs by which we may know that the time for the fulfilment of the promise is near.
Do we long for the day when this promise shall come true? Do we long to see our Redeemer? We certainly should. Do we long to enter into that land of promise? Do we long to gather flowers by its glittering brooklets which never run dry? We certainly should. We are too near the eternal home to stop and look back. We are too near the promised land to give up the journey. We are too near the end to give up the struggle for that which is right. We must yet a little while be faithful and we will surely enter into that beautiful land of promise—to the land that flows with milk and honey, to the land of peace and rest. Abraham looked forward to that day when the promise should be fulfilled. He looked forward in faith to the time when the earth should be made new and given to him and his seed as an everlasting possession. We are nearer that time than he was.
God gave the children of Israel a command to get ready to pass over the Jordan and to enter into the promised land. He is giving us the same command to-day. Do we heed His command? Delay is surely dangerous. If we are not ready when the final signal is given, those who are ready will pass over and we will be left behind. God is selecting a people that will be ready when Jesus comes. If we shall be among them, we must be faithful here in this world of sin and wo.
When the struggle here is ended, what a joyful time it will be when we shall come home!5In that beautiful land we shall rest from all the worry and sorrow we have had here. I long for that day. How sweet it will be to drink of the water which flows in the river of life; and to eat of the fruits of the tree of life. How blessed it will be to meet our Saviour, and the loved ones, and the faithful of all the ages, in the land of promise!