Heb 11 Greeting From Afar

These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 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 for them a city. — Hebrews 11:13-16

 

Perhaps this passage helps us to know how to work with this tension of the here/not yet Kingdom of God. 'Not having received the things promised' is a not yet Kingdom of God experience. These people are praised for 'having seen them and greeted them from afar.' This is a different Greek word for seen than the word used in verse 1 with the definition of faith, 'the conviction of things not seen.' From the context, this seen is about what you are able to see, but are not experiencing yet, like seeing a far off city (v. 10) and not yet experiencing being in that city.

'Greeted them [the promises] from afar' is a curious phrase. The verb is generally used with greeting or welcoming people and is translated as embraced in some Bible versions. You cannot embrace something from afar, but this word does imply a deep and meaningful connection to what you are greeting.

This greeting or welcoming is related to 'acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.' Welcoming or embracing the far off city or country involves not embracing your current life as your home. There is an orientation, an identity, in which we expect to find our sense of belonging, comfort and security in a future kingdom rather than in the circumstances of our present lives. I think we all struggle to accept this expectation of our lives. It is the opposite of health and wealth theology that expects God to provide the good life here on earth to those who have the right kind of faith.

One of the things that I am learning in Spiritual Director training is the value of questions over answers. So here are some questions to ponder: What would it mean to do your work in a manner that greets or welcomes the Kingdom of God from afar? What about your work should reflect that you have accepted the fact that you are a transient in this world? How do you do your work, or experience your work, when you are relating to your current life as your homeland rather than your future heavenly life?