“People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:14-16)

Moving to an unfamiliar place always comes with a complex mix of excitement and grief. You pack your life into boxes, say goodbye to the people you love, and drive away from everything comfortable. It takes a profound amount of courage to leave the familiar behind in pursuit of something better.

Thousands of years ago, a group of spiritual pioneers did exactly this. They walked away from their hometowns and their familiar routines to chase after a quiet promise from God. The writer of Hebrews gives us a beautiful insight into their mindset:

“People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11:14-16).

What the world looks at as foolish, God looks at with incredible favor. The early patriarchs of our faith gave up everything for the unseen. They looked forward. They knew that if they spent their time looking in the rearview mirror, they would eventually turn back to the comfort they left behind.

Here is a beautiful truth we can draw from their journey: because they chose to fix their eyes on the future, God was not ashamed to be called their God.

In fact, He permanently attached His own name to theirs. Generations later, God introduced Himself to Moses from a burning bush as "the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob" (Exodus 3:6). He aligned His eternal identity with these wandering nomads simply because they possessed the audacity to trust Him.

Admitting that we are just temporary residents on this earth frees us to pursue God with open hands. When we let go of our deep attachment to our current circumstances, we create space for the better future He is actively building. God has prepared a permanent home for us. We only need to keep looking forward, trusting His vision so we do not become homesick for a past we were meant to outgrow.

In your own life, you might feel the heavy tug to settle for what is easy instead of stepping into the unknown with God. Keep your eyes fixed on what He has planned for you. Disregard the temporary comforts that hold you back. Just as He did with the great men and women of scripture, God is not ashamed to be called your God. He is preparing a wonderful future for you. All we need to do is continue walking forward, fully believing that He will remain true to every single promise.

Personal Reflection Questions

1. Are you holding on to comfort when God might be inviting you into something new?

2. What old habits or comforts do you need to release to move forward in faith?

3. How does knowing God is not ashamed to be called your God encourage you to trust His promises today?