Abraham obeyed God by faith. He was obedient to God going to a land he could not "research" first. Called to leave his father's house and the land he was living in. We believe God spoke directly to Abraham and commanded him to leave. Not because the land was being over run, but because of God's command to do so. Abraham was directly and intimately involved the church. Can you imagine the discussions, talks, and stories shared with Noah and Shem? But, God called him to go. He was called to pack up his wife, his entire household, and to go to an unknown land. God was narrowing the preaching and His covenant in Abraham as He would bless many in him....according to His promise of a great nation, Christ being born of his loins, and an everlasting blessing and inheritance. There was nothing in Canaan for Abraham. No land was owned by him as he lived like a nomad in tents! But....he saw and sought the Heavenly homeland! And it is no different than the Gospel that is preached to you and I. Christ and the entrance you and I have in Canaan! No abiding place here below for us or our children who have heavenly treasure.

Everything was mundane and Abraham saw it. He saw Christ. He saw Heaven! And he was able to do this BY FAITH! He had the very evidence and substance of things that normally would not be seen by FAITH! By faith he went as he obeyed the call of the gospel. Foolishness to many but used by Christ to call. The power of God that gives us joy in the gospel as well. That's why many say to us "show me a heaven...it foolishness and crazy." NO....IT'S FAITH!!! Abraham had 20/20 vision and could see clearly with the eye of faith knowing full well that God would give him what He had promised to him. And we can see even clearer than Abraham did can we not? Not one promise in the Old Testament failed or did not come true and so will be the case with the promise to us!

Amid all the things of this world....the suffering, the hardships, even death and the grave we still walk joyfully toward Heaven. Just like Abraham who patterned his whole life around the promises. He did not return. He was a pilgrim. A stranger with no abiding place below in the land.

God stands by His Word and His promises to him and to us. We are the children of God by faith.