When Sarah died, Abraham wanted her to be buried in Hebron because of the promise that God made to him - the promise that this was the land that God was going to give to the Jews. The promise had not yet been fulfilled, so Abraham wanted to pay for a place to bury his wife in what would be the future home of his people. Abraham admitted that at the present time he was a stranger, and God had not yet given the land to the Jews, but his faith was strong, and he knew God's plan would come to pass. He was planning on the hope for the future. Is our faith that strong? When I look around at what is going on in the world today, I sometimes wonder. Abraham was preparing for the future, but I am not sure we are.

We can see Abraham's trust in God was rock-solid. If Christ was to return today, are we ready? I pray for faith like Abraham's. I pray that I am looking at God's promise to me for the future and am prepared for it.

Abraham was preparing for the future. Am I prepared? Are you prepared? I pray God will give us the wisdom to be prepared for the return of Christ.

John Middlewood, Nakhon Phanom, Thailand