Abra\u00adham is pre\u00adsen\u00adted to us in the Bible as a gre\u00adat exam\u00adp\u00adle of faith. And it is true, he did tru\u00adly ama\u00adzing things out of trust in God. The let\u00adter to the Hebrews reve\u00adals his secret. Abra\u00adham trus\u00adted in a future city built by God, he trus\u00adted that death is not the end and that one day all pro\u00admi\u00adses will be ful\u00adfil\u00adled. This visi\u00adon of things to come made him act bold\u00adly and con\u00adfi\u00addent\u00adly in the present.<\/p>\n
Hope is the abili\u00adty to hear the music of the future. Faith is the cou\u00adra\u00adge to dance to it in the pre\u00adsent. Every living hope shapes the pre\u00adsent. At the begin\u00adning of 1990, my stu\u00addies at the Neu Tech\u00adni\u00adkum in Buchs were coming to an end. I lived with the hope that I would have an engi\u00adnee\u00adring job with a fat sala\u00adry from the sum\u00admer. This hope led me to buy an expen\u00adsi\u00adve racing bike with tri\u00adath\u00adlon hand\u00adle\u00adbars, even though I had no money. The pro\u00ads\u00adpect of being a \u00abbig ear\u00adner\u00bb in the future shaped the pre\u00adsent. I was rea\u00addy to take bold steps. \tIt is worth rea\u00adding the Bible text aloud with each other! Abra\u00adham is pre\u00adsen\u00adted to us in the Bible as a gre\u00adat exam\u00adp\u00adle of faith. And it is true, he did tru\u00adly ama\u00adzing things out of trust in God. The let\u00adter to the Hebrews reve\u00adals his secret. Abra\u00adham trus\u00adted in a future city built by God, he trus\u00adted that death is not the end and\u2026<\/p>","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":7062,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","wpfc_preacher":[23],"wpfc_sermon_series":[81],"wpfc_sermon_topics":[],"wpfc_bible_book":[],"wpfc_service_type":[12],"class_list":{"0":"wpfc_preacher-matthias-altwegg","1":"wpfc_sermon_series-creatio","2":"wpfc-sermon-single","3":"post-6943","4":"wpfc_sermon","5":"type-wpfc_sermon","6":"status-publish","7":"has-post-thumbnail","8":"hentry","11":"wpfc_service_type-gottesdienst"},"acf":[],"sermons_blog_filters_topics":"\t\t\t\t
\nAbra\u00adham, the father of the three gre\u00adat mono\u00adthe\u00adi\u00adstic world reli\u00adgi\u00adons, is pre\u00adsen\u00adted to us in the Bible as a model of a man of faith. This he was sole\u00adly becau\u00adse he pos\u00ads\u00ades\u00adsed the extra\u00ador\u00addi\u00adna\u00adry abili\u00adty to see through the horizon.
\nDancing to the music of the future
\nChris\u00adti\u00adans are some\u00adti\u00admes accu\u00adsed of a cheap com\u00adfort in the here\u00adaf\u00adter. This can be seen in the fact that a per\u00adson lives a world-away and world-deny\u00ading life. He feels com\u00adpel\u00adled to ser\u00adve out his time in this world in order to final\u00adly be with God. Genui\u00adne hope is dif\u00adfe\u00adrent; it dri\u00adves us to excel in this world and sees the time on earth as a dance stage. Hope is the abili\u00adty to hear the music of the future. Faith is the cou\u00adra\u00adge to dance to it in the pre\u00adsent. In today\u2019s world, the con\u00adso\u00adla\u00adti\u00adon of the here\u00adaf\u00adter is rather rare. The grea\u00adter dan\u00adger is to lose sight of the per\u00adspec\u00adti\u00adve on the new world. Jesus then beco\u00admes the coach who must help us to mas\u00adter the pre\u00adsent life well.
\nAbraham\u2019s dance in this world has the fol\u00adlo\u00adwing expression:
\nSet\u00adting out for new shores: \u00abBy faith Abra\u00adham obey\u00aded when God told him to lea\u00adve his home\u00adland and go to ano\u00adther land that God would give him as an inhe\u00adri\u00adtance. He went wit\u00adhout kno\u00adwing whe\u00adre his path would lead him\u00bb (Hebrews 11:8 NLB<\/span>).
\nWit\u00adhout a busi\u00adness plan or a gua\u00adran\u00adtee cer\u00adti\u00adfi\u00adca\u00adte in his pocket, Abra\u00adham left his home coun\u00adtry with his fami\u00adly and all his pos\u00adses\u00adsi\u00adons. One could accu\u00adse him of nai\u00adve\u00adty and reck\u00adless\u00adness. Howe\u00adver, sin\u00adce God is the initia\u00adtor, we keep the\u00adse thoughts to our\u00adsel\u00adves. Trans\u00adfer\u00adred to us, it could mean that we quit a job wit\u00adhout a fol\u00adlow-up solu\u00adti\u00adon becau\u00adse God asks us to do so. Or that we fol\u00adlow an impres\u00adsi\u00adon and go to the neighbour\u2019s house to give them a gift. For me per\u00adso\u00adnal\u00adly, it also meant set\u00adting out from home many years ago, with trembling kne\u00ades and the uncer\u00adtain\u00adty of whe\u00adther God would give me what a pas\u00adtor needs in his pro\u00adfes\u00adsio\u00adnal field in time.
\nInde\u00adpen\u00addent and free of pos\u00adses\u00adsi\u00adons and sta\u00adtus: \u00abAnd even when he rea\u00adched the land God had pro\u00admi\u00adsed him, he lived the\u00adre by the power of faith \u2013 for he was in that land like a stran\u00adger living in a tent [\u2026]\u00bb (V.9 NLB<\/span>).
\nAbra\u00adham did not sett\u00adle in the land of Cana\u00adan, but lived in a tent. He remain\u00aded available to God becau\u00adse he did not tie hims\u00adelf down to land and pos\u00adses\u00adsi\u00adons. We like to mano\u00adeu\u00advre our\u00adsel\u00adves into situa\u00adtions whe\u00adre we can hard\u00adly move becau\u00adse of our finan\u00adcial or idea\u00adli\u00adstic obli\u00adga\u00adti\u00adons. Do you live in a tent inde\u00adpen\u00addent of world\u00adly pos\u00adses\u00adsi\u00adons or have you sett\u00adled down?
\nExpe\u00adri\u00aden\u00adcing mira\u00adcles: \u00abThrough faith, Sarah was able to have a child with Abra\u00adham, even though they were both too old and even though Sarah was bar\u00adren. For he belie\u00adved that God would keep his pro\u00admi\u00adse\u00bb (v.11 NLB<\/span>).
\nThe\u00adre was not\u00adhing to sug\u00adgest that the two old men would have ano\u00adther child. Sarah bore the stamp \u00abbar\u00adren\u00bb and both were far bey\u00adond the abili\u00adty to con\u00adcei\u00adve at their age. The only thing that made them hold on to hope was the pro\u00admi\u00adse of God. Some\u00adti\u00admes we get into situa\u00adtions whe\u00adre ratio\u00adnal\u00adly not\u00adhing speaks for a posi\u00adti\u00adve turn of events; e.g. in an ill\u00adness, in a dif\u00adfi\u00adcult rela\u00adti\u00adonship. Against all medi\u00adcal pro\u00adgno\u00adses and expe\u00adri\u00aden\u00adces, we can hold on to the pro\u00admi\u00adse that Jesus has bor\u00adne all ill\u00adnesses for us.
\nRea\u00addy to let go of what is dear: \u00abBy faith, Abra\u00adham was rea\u00addy to offer Isaac as a sacri\u00adfice when God put him to the test. Abra\u00adham, who had recei\u00adved God\u2019s pro\u00admi\u00adses, was wil\u00adling to sacri\u00adfice his only son Isaac, even though God had pro\u00admi\u00adsed him, \u00abOnly the des\u00adcen\u00addants of Isaac shall be cal\u00adled your des\u00adcen\u00addants.\u00bb \u00bb (v.17f NLB<\/span>).
\nCon\u00adside\u00adring that God hims\u00adelf was wil\u00adling to sacri\u00adfice his only son, this act of faith by Abra\u00adham could be cal\u00adled \u00abdivi\u00adne\u00bb. The sacri\u00adfice of child\u00adren was not excep\u00adtio\u00adnal in the cul\u00adtu\u00adral con\u00adtext of Abra\u00adham. But the fact that Abra\u00adham had a son 25 years after God\u2019s pro\u00admi\u00adse makes the sto\u00adry so spe\u00adcial. Abra\u00adham was wil\u00adling to let go of his son. Let\u00adting go is an expe\u00adri\u00adence that we humans have to go through again and again. We are chal\u00adlen\u00adged to let go of child\u00adren, self-reli\u00adance, abili\u00adties, health, etc. Recent\u00adly, a woman told me some years after moving into a reti\u00adre\u00adment home that she was now finis\u00adhed with her house. She was beaming.
\nLis\u00adtening to the music of the future
\nSet\u00adting out for new shores, living inde\u00adpendent\u00adly and free of pos\u00adses\u00adsi\u00adons and sta\u00adtus, expe\u00adri\u00aden\u00adcing mira\u00adcles, being able to let go of what you love \u2013 Abra\u00adham inde\u00aded had a good and adven\u00adtur\u00adous life! Do you want that too? Ulrich Zwing\u00adli famously said, \u00abFor God\u2019s sake, do some\u00adthing bra\u00adve!\u00bb Why was Abra\u00adham able to live such an ama\u00adzing life? Ans\u00adwer: Becau\u00adse he heard the music of the future!
\n\u00abAbra\u00adham was able to act in this way becau\u00adse he was wai\u00adting for a city with a firm foun\u00adda\u00adti\u00adon, who\u00adse buil\u00adder and crea\u00adtor is God hims\u00adelf\u00bb (v.10 NLB<\/span>). Abra\u00adham saw the city of God, the hea\u00adven\u00adly Jeru\u00adsa\u00adlem, befo\u00adre his inner eyes alre\u00ada\u00addy 4000 years ago. This \u2013 and only this \u2013 was the reason for his inde\u00adpen\u00addence and free\u00addom from world\u00adly sta\u00adtus and pos\u00adses\u00adsi\u00adons. Through this free\u00addom we beco\u00adme available for God\u2019s good guidance.
\n\u00abAll the\u00adse peo\u00adp\u00adle belie\u00adved until they died wit\u00adhout having recei\u00adved what God had pro\u00admi\u00adsed them. But they saw what was pro\u00admi\u00adsed to them from afar and loo\u00adked for\u00adward to it, for they had reco\u00adg\u00adnis\u00aded and testi\u00adfied that they were only guests and stran\u00adgers here on earth. And they con\u00adfes\u00adsed with it that they were sear\u00adching for a land they could call home\u00bb (v.13f NLB<\/span>).
\nPeo\u00adp\u00adle like Abra\u00adham did not recei\u00adve ever\u00ady\u00adthing that was pro\u00admi\u00adsed to them on this earth. A per\u00adson of hope adds eter\u00adnal glo\u00adry to this. Death is not the end, but mere\u00adly a cae\u00adsu\u00adra befo\u00adre the grand fina\u00adle. Abra\u00adham and co. could see through the hori\u00adzon. Do you also want to expe\u00adri\u00adence gre\u00adat mira\u00adcles with God? The key is the basic fee\u00adling and mind\u00adset of a sojour\u00adner on earth and the inclu\u00adsi\u00adon of life after death in the new crea\u00adti\u00adon. If the\u00adre were no eter\u00adni\u00adty in the pre\u00adsence of God, then the\u00adre would be no jus\u00adti\u00adce and many of God\u2019s pro\u00admi\u00adses would be not\u00adhing more than fan\u00adta\u00adstic ideas.
\n\u00abAbra\u00adham assu\u00admed that God could bring Isaac back to life when he died. And in a sen\u00adse Abra\u00adham did inde\u00aded get his son back from the dead\u00bb (v.19 NLB<\/span>). This is ama\u00adzing: Abra\u00adham trus\u00adted God with ever\u00ady\u00adthing; even that he could rai\u00adse Isaac from the dead. We have a gre\u00adat advan\u00adta\u00adge: name\u00adly, we know that Jesus rose bodi\u00adly from the dead. The\u00adre is no doubt that Jesus has con\u00adque\u00adr\u00aded death. Almost mockin\u00adgly, Paul wri\u00adtes: \u00abDeath, whe\u00adre is your vic\u00adto\u00adry? Death, whe\u00adre is your sting?\u00bb (1 Corin\u00adthi\u00adans 15:55 NLB<\/span>). We can incor\u00adpo\u00adra\u00adte this rea\u00adli\u00adty into the way we live our lives.
\nAbra\u00adham had a very con\u00adcre\u00adte future hope con\u00adsis\u00adting of resur\u00adrec\u00adtion, a city built by God and the ful\u00adfilm\u00adent of the bol\u00addest dreams and pro\u00admi\u00adses. This is the key to a heroic life of faith on this earth.
\nDo not be asha\u00admed of hope
\nIn our Bible text the\u00adre is an inte\u00adres\u00adt\u00ading sen\u00adtence about God: \u00abBut they were loo\u00adking for a bet\u00adter place, a home in hea\u00adven. The\u00adr\u00ade\u00adfo\u00adre God is not asha\u00admed to be cal\u00adled their God, for he has built them a city in hea\u00adven\u00bb (v.16 NLB<\/span>). God would be asha\u00admed to be cal\u00adled the God of Abra\u00adham if Abraham\u2019s hopes came to not\u00adhing. God would also be asha\u00admed to be cal\u00adled your God if your hopes were not ful\u00adfil\u00adled. He con\u00adnects hims\u00adelf to your desti\u00adny. But God has built us a city in hea\u00adven. Becau\u00adse He did it, He has not\u00adhing to be asha\u00admed of, even if peo\u00adp\u00adle often die with their hopes unful\u00adfil\u00adled. This is not a cheap con\u00adso\u00adla\u00adti\u00adon of the here\u00adaf\u00adter, but well-foun\u00added com\u00adfort from the hereafter.
\nIs it all true? Resur\u00adrec\u00adtion from the dead, a city built by God, the ful\u00adfilm\u00adent of all pro\u00admi\u00adses? Some\u00adti\u00admes the\u00adse things seem too fan\u00adta\u00adstic to be true. I doubt and am asha\u00admed of my hope. Fre\u00adde\u00adrik B\u00fcch\u00adner spo\u00adke a sen\u00adtence that is important to me: \u00abDoubts are the ants in the trou\u00adsers of faith. They keep it awa\u00adke and moving.\u00bb Doubt can ener\u00adgi\u00adse faith just as aff\u00adlic\u00adtion can ener\u00adgi\u00adse hope. When I read bio\u00adgra\u00adphies like Abraham\u2019s, it streng\u00adthens faith. For I can\u00adnot ima\u00adgi\u00adne that Abraham\u2019s hope in the city built by God was dis\u00adap\u00adpoin\u00adted. God is not asha\u00admed to be cal\u00adled their God. God hims\u00adelf vou\u00adch\u00ades for the truth of the Bible. \u00abThe\u00adr\u00ade\u00adfo\u00adre let us con\u00adti\u00adnue to hold fast to the hope we pro\u00adfess, for God is faithful to his pro\u00admi\u00adses\u00bb (Hebrews 10:23 NLB<\/span>).
\nDiet\u00adrich Bon\u00adhoef\u00adfer turns the tables: \u00abIt is not our hopes that we will one day have to be asha\u00admed of, but our poor and fear\u00adful hope\u00adl\u00adess\u00adness that trusts God with not\u00adhing. And so I will con\u00adti\u00adnue to lis\u00adten to the music of hea\u00adven and try to dance to it in my life. I want to anti\u00adci\u00adpa\u00adte the future and take steps of faith today that I would not take wit\u00adhout an eter\u00adni\u00adty perspective.
\n
\nPos\u00adsi\u00adble ques\u00adti\u00adons for the small groups
\nRead the Bible text: Hebrews 11:8\u201319<\/p>\n
\n\tWhat bold deeds of faith do you know about Abraham?
\n\tAccor\u00adding to Hebrews 11, why was he able to do such cou\u00adra\u00adge\u00adous things and expe\u00adri\u00adence such miracles?
\n\tWhat is the dif\u00adfe\u00adrence bet\u00adween a con\u00adso\u00adla\u00adti\u00adon of the here\u00adaf\u00adter and genui\u00adne Chris\u00adti\u00adan hope, using the exam\u00adp\u00adle of Abraham?
\n\tHypo\u00adthe\u00adti\u00adcal\u00adly: What would be dif\u00adfe\u00adrent in our ever\u00ady\u00adday life if we had the same living hope as Abraham?
\n\tDo you agree that peo\u00adp\u00adle with living hope expe\u00adri\u00adence more mira\u00adcles than others? Why?<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"