Not ashamed to be called our God

Hebrews 11:16. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them. We are encouraged today by what God thinks about everyone who calls themselves foreigners and exiles on the earth. This is what is meant by “as it is.” As strangers on the earth who have been kicked out by the world system, they desire a heavenly country. In the heavenly country, God has prepared a city for them that they can call home. The Holy Spirit tells us something about what God thinks about those who consider their home in heaven to be better than their home on earth. He is honored to be called their God. Let’s notice the implied contrasts between those who are happy citizens of Earth and these strangers and exiles. They have different gods. When we talk about gods, we must talk about love. Let’s see how God connects idolatry and love in His condemnation of Jerusalem. Thus says the Lord GOD, “Therefore, O harlot, hear the word of the LORD. Because your lewdness was poured out and your nakedness uncovered through your harlotries with your lovers and with all your detestable idols,” God said He would destroy them with their gods to whom they looked. Those who are home on the earth have gods that are on the earth. God is ashamed to be called the God of people who love the things and people of the earth more than they love Him. In contrast, God is not ashamed to be called the only God of those who are strangers and exiles on the earth. They are strangers and exiles primarily because they love, and therefore seek, God, Himself. They consider God’s word, will, and promises as better than what the world has to offer. They desire a better country, God’s city and country. That’s exactly why they are exiles. They have been kicked out because they won’t worship the gods of the people of the earth. That makes them vastly different from everyone else on earth. God is the object of their love and the source of their love. Therefore, He’s not ashamed to be called their God. My encouragement today is to consider living our lives in such a way that God is not ashamed to be called our God. If we live to glorify God by living to love with Jesus, God is honored to be called our God. We will honor Him like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, and Sarah did. More than likely if we live like that, people will say to us, “You’re not from ‘round here, are you?” Who and how we love will be strange to them, but God will not be ashamed to be called our God. So press on in love with Jesus toward the heavenly city whose builder and maker is God.