GOD IS NOT ASHAMED
Hebrews 11:13 These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. 14 For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 15 And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.
1. What is God not ashamed of? – to be called their God:
You mean that the sovereign, holy, all glorious, “I AM” is willing to have his identification taken from his relationship with these tent dwellers? Yep! That’s what it clearly says!
You mean that he knows that birds of a feather flock together, and he still wants to be identified by his flocking together with these base things? Yep! In fact, God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (1 Cor. 1:27,28). Notice in Hebrews 11:9 just to whom it is that he is referring. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: We are speaking of Abraham, his son and grandson.
They are ‘flocked together’ by birth and by a promise! This is the same with the entire spiritual church of the Lord! He dwells in the midst of the golden lamp stands; the Light of Life dwelling among the light of the world! (Rev. 1:13; John 8:12; Matt. 5:14). Their blending of their light together is the marriage and oneness of union that causes there to be no need of other light! 1 Corin. 6:17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit. Rev. 21:23 And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
And the identity of Abraham’s seed {Gal. 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise.}, with one another, as well as with God, is by a spiritual birth. For in order to be a merciful and faithful high priest Christ had to be in all things, made like unto his brethren! (Heb. 2:17). Luke 1:35 And the angel answered and said unto her, The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee: therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God. John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.
And it is by a true and faithful promise. And all of those with whom he relates are children of promise! Galatians 3:22 But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe. 3:29 And if ye be Christ’s, then are ye Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. 4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise. 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
In fact, the Lord God starts out early in the scriptures identifying himself in this fashion with these “base things.” Exodus 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
And the Lord Jesus Christ also preached this very thing to clear up an error of the Jews in their misinterpretation of the scriptures. Matthew 22:29 Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. 31 But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying, 32 I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? God is not the God of the dead, but of the living. 33 And when the multitude heard this, they were astonished at his doctrine.
Listen also to James 2:5 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
The Lord is not just said to be unashamed of these, but he is even positively said to be a friend of sinners! Matt. 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. He gave his life’s blood for them while they were yet sinners! Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
He will even be their yoke fellow! Matt 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
The earliest record that we have of God in the scriptures reveals Him as being in the attitude of a sacrifice for these from the very foundation of the world! Revelation 13:8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
In fact the very first recorded word of the thought of the Incarnate Word was, “sacrifice!” Hebrews 10:5 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: Listen to 1 Timothy 1:15. This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Consider also his condescension. He even experiences humility in his time of humiliation! Phil. 2:5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.
He became legally responsible for their sin and was actually numbered with them as transgressors! 2 Cor. 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. Isaiah 53:12 Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. Praise His holy name!
Where is God said to dwell? Psalm 34:18 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit. Isaiah 57:15 For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.
The Lord does not ever ‘pitch His tent’ far from those with whom he has chosen to be identified! But who are these contrite ones? Those words are the exact same Hebrew word translated, to bruise him in Isaiah 53:10! For those with whom God identifies with and is never ashamed of, not only share the oneness of light and life, but also share the humiliation of the cross! Romans 6:5 For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: 2 Tim. 2:12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:
2. Why is God not ashamed of these? We must notice that word, wherefore in verse sixteen above! For this word instructs us as to why the Lord is ashamed of others, but not of these! It is like the reason given by the Lord Jesus as recorded in Mark 8:38. Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
The wherefore is connected to the attitude of these who see themselves as but strangers and pilgrims in this world! They are not mindful of their “native towns,” or of their “father land,” which it the meaning of the word country in verse 15 of our text. They are not like Lot’s wife whose heart lay in that which was behind! The Lord commands us to remember her, (Lk. 17:32), for he states, if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him. (Hebrews 10:38).
Phil. 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Rest assured, dear reader, that God is ashamed in all who have a desire for the world! Make sure that you understand that this is an absolute! Love the world – No love of God within you! 1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
Those words, been mindful in verse 15 of our text are presented to us as, “thinking with (homesick) remembrance,” in the Amplified Bible. And if that were the case this inordinate affection would have found some way to have justified their return! But not these! These were confessed pilgrims and strangers who were not seeking God to provide them with real estate, but with Himself!
And as such they did not burden themselves with accumulations of possessions. They knew that a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth. (Luke 12:15). These pilgrims travel towards the celestial city without cumbersome possessions. They are as the man in Matthew 13:45,46. For there we read, Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
The true pilgrim sells all he has to invest in that which does not restrain his travels, and is of great value! The true believer goes to the exchange of heaven and seeks Christ as the most valuable thing for his soul! Matt. 16:26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? Revelation 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.
And what is the currency of acceptance at God’s exchange, but belief and faith? Isaiah 55:1 Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. 2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. 3 Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David.
These are the vessels of mercy upon whom the Lord will bestow the riches of his glory! (Romans 9:23). These are those who have been begotten To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. (1 Peter 1:4,5). They have awaiting at the end of their pilgrimage that which moth could not corrupt. Nor which thieves could break through and steal! Nor could inflation devalue it!
These are those whom God identifies himself by! These are those whom God is not ashamed of! These are those who seek God in order to forbid any carnal glory! They seek God to aid them in glorying only in Christ’s cross! For it is their most valuable benefit in keeping themselves rightly related to the world! Gal. 6:14 But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world.
1 Corinthians 7:29 But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none; 30 And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not; 31 And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
2 Corin. 6:16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18 And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty.
Pastor Gene Breed
October 15, 2010
