‘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’ (Hebrews 11.13).

Benefit of Fellowship

The benefits shine out from Hebrews 11.13 also – ‘These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off.’ We particularly notice the word ‘all’, which reminds us that there are countless believers. We are not alone; there are many others.

It is so precious and valuable for believers to join together on the Lord’s Day and on weeknight gatherings to hear the Word, to fellowship together, and to draw pleasure and solace from each other. It is sad when Christians don’t know many people in their church fellowship, because one of the great comforts in the life of a pilgrim is that there are many of us in this family.

Round the world there are millions and millions of Christ’s people. Of course we cannot know all of them, but we may think of others, even in the most isolated places.

Countless people love Christ and his Word, and live as pilgrims passing through this present evil world. There are far more than we realise, even in our land, and certainly throughout the world. Vast is the company of those who have been brought to see through this world, have met with Christ, and now walk with him. We are not talking about a few pilgrims, but about the largest nationality or clan of like-minded people on earth.

Benefit of Experience

Another benefit that engages our attention in Hebrews 11.13 is the fact that our pilgrimage is a very well proven journey. The phrase – ‘These all died in faith’ – extends from the first generation of people on earth to the twenty-first century. Billions of saved people have taken this journey before us, and have proved the Lord. We see the picture set out in the Scriptures. Here are the histories of those who have proved him through mighty deliverances. They were vindicated and blessed, finishing their journey in triumph and happiness. So have a great throng down the rolling centuries since. How moving it is to read the biographical accounts of the people of faith, and the famous proclaimers, who adorn history! The encouragements and lessons are innumerable. This is a well-trafficked and well-proven journey, and we are not by any means the pioneers.

Benefit of Security

Allied to this we see in Hebrews 11.13 the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints, for all the pilgrims ‘died in faith’, kept safely to the end by the power of God, in spite of any weakness and foolishness of their own. If they fell into some foolish pitfall by their own sinfulness, even if the Lord had to discipline them, he rescued them from that fall, and they were restored to the full joy of their salvation. Every twist and turn of the pilgrim journey is known to God, who watches every step of his people. No man and no other force can pluck them out of his hand.

Believers never forget that they are on their way to that place where there is no more death, sin, pain, or suffering, and even now they have the ‘earnest’ of their inheritance, the ‘down payment’ as it were, their new nature, new understanding and their spiritual faculties and joys . . . to be continued