Not Ashamed
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 11:16
In Hebrews 11, the author encourages Christians to remain faithful by looking at heroes of faith in the Old Testament. He focuses on Abraham and Sarah in particular, talking about how they were willing to move to an unseen land at God’s command. In reality, everyone who follows God is on that same journey. They are seeking after a land unseen. However, it is not just a physical land that they travel to, but a spiritual one: heaven.
We can draw special encouragement from the fact that God is not ashamed of his followers. Yet when looking at this list, we know that none of his followers are perfect. Looking even deeper into the Bible, we see that many other pillars of faith had their weaknesses. They falter many times. Abraham lied about his wife. Despite this, God was still proud to be associated with him.
What is it that made God proud of His children, even after they fell short? God has always focused on the heart. In particular, he cares about what your heart desires. Abraham was willing to give up everything and everyone he had ever known. He did so because God made him a promise. Abraham sought after God and his promises with all his heart.
When we have that same mindset, God is delighted in us as well. He is looking for opportunities to praise us and encourage us. God takes pride in our relationship with Him. He is excited to watch them take their journey of faith and overcome the pitfalls they encounter. God wants to proclaim His association with His people. The New Testament asserts such when it claims that we are His chosen people, His priests, set apart for Him, and His own possession (1 Peter 2:9). Passage after passage talks about God proudly claiming us as His own. We should take comfort in all the terms that He uses to associate us with Him.
This also should be a vivid reminder that we should be proud of our association with him as well. If the Creator of the universe is willing to be called “Our God”, then who are we to be ashamed of Him. We should have the same pride in God that He has in us. It is why Jesus threatens to deny those who would deny Him (Luke 12:9). Why would he claim us for His own when we refuse to do the same?
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 11:16