Not Of This World

Not Of This World

Abraham, the father of the Jewish nation, descended from Eber - Eber was the third generation after Shem (Genesis 10:21-24). The name Eber appears 7 times in Genesis (in the Table of Nations in Genesis chapters 10-11). Abram was the sixth generation after Eber, and he is often referred to as a Hebrew, and the nation that descended from him are called the Hebrews. The name Hebrew comes from the name Eber.** Eber means “the region beyond,” and therefore a Hebrew is “one from beyond.”

**It is interesting to note that Eber is the 14th generation from creation (Enoch being the 7th). The people of God in the Old Testament take their name (the Hebrews) from this man. Contrast this with the rebel, Nimrod, the founder of Babel/Babylon, who was the 13th generation (see Genesis 10:6-10). In Genesis, Abram is the 20th generation (see Genesis 11:10-32). However, if you look at Luke 3:34-38, you will see Abraham listed as the 21st generation (counting backwards from verse 38, Adam being the first generation; and Cainan being listed in verse 36 - for whatever reason he is not listed in the genealogies in Genesis). That makes the 7th generation, the “dedicated” man, Enoch (see Genesis 5:21-24 and Jude 1:14-15); Eber (the namesake for the people of God, the Hebrews), the 14th generation; and Abram/Abraham, the father of the Jews physically (Romans 4:1) and the father of all who believe spiritually (see Romans chapter 4, where Abraham is called a “father” seven times; see especially Romans 4:11), the 21st generation. If you count out the number of generations listed in Luke 3:23-38, you will also discover that Jesus Christ, our Saviour, is the 77th generation from God! Interesting stuff indeed!

I love studying out Old Testament types and pictures and seeing how they portray spiritual things that are opened up to us in the light of the New Testament. Consider the following passage:

Numbers 15:37-41  And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue: And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring: That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your God. I am the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: I am the LORD your God.

In regards to the priesthood and the tabernacle system, the colour blue (ie. blue thread or blue material) is representative of Heaven. They were to put blue fringes (ie. tassels) on the borders of their garments so that everything they did was with the things of Heaven in view, in light of the glory of God, in light of eternity. We see that exact same idea portrayed in Colossians:

Colossians 3:1-4 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

Are you living for the Lord, keeping your focus on Him, and serving Him day by day?

1 Corinthians 10:31  Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.

Colossians 3:23  And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;

This also comes to mind regarding Abraham:

Joshua 24:2-3 And Joshua said unto all the people, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Your fathers dwelt on the other side of the flood in old time, even Terah, the father of Abraham, and the father of Nachor: and they served other gods. And I took your father Abraham from the other side of the flood, and led him throughout all the land of Canaan, and multiplied his seed, and gave him Isaac.

We also see the following statement about Abraham, the other patriarchs, and OT believers:

Hebrews 11:13 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.

And for us:

John 15:18-19 If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

John 17:16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.

1 Peter 2:9-11  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul;

A really great quote from Warren Wiersbe from his BE Commentaries on the last passage above is: “Our citizenship is in heaven (Phil. 3:20), our names are written down in heaven (Luke 10:20), and we are “pilgrims” in this world (1 Pet. 1:1). A fugitive is running from home, a vagabond has no home, a stranger is away from home, but a pilgrim is heading home. This dual citizenship forces us to look at this world from the viewpoint of heaven.”

Are you living for this world or for the world that is to come? Are you of this world, living for the things of this world - or are you not of this world? Let us keep our minds steadfastly focused on the things of eternity, storing up treasures in Heaven, and keeping our eyes upon the Lord Jesus Christ!

November 6th, 2024
Jerry Bouey

For a further blessing on this theme, please read the following poem, Soaring Aloft On Eagle's Wings