20 January 2024
Reading From Genesis 25-26
“Then Abraham breathed his last and died at a good old age, an old man and full of years; and he was gathered to his people.”
–Genesis 25:8
As far as I can tell, the death of Abraham is the first mention of an afterlife in the Bible aside from Enoch, who walked with God and who did not die physically but was caught up by God and taken to Heaven directly.[1] What a beautiful phrase, “he was gathered to his people.” Abraham’s identity was found in living as a man of faith, his community was his extensive household and the people groups they interacted with, and community was even his destiny as we see that Heaven is not a lonely place, but a gathering place for people who follow the Lord by faith.[2] Followers of God in the Old Testament obeyed God the best way they knew how based on everything He had revealed thus far in the constraints of the time, space and cultures of the ancient world.[3] They looked forward in faith, whether they were cognizant of it or not, to the first advent of Jesus Christ and those who came after the earthly ministry of the Savior look back in history to find salvation at the cross and forward to the destiny to be made known at the second advent.[4]
Every book of the Old Testament contains foreshadows, types and prophecies regarding the coming Messiah and Jesus, born in the meridian of time, fulfilled all those hundreds of predictions concerning His first advent. By trusting in His perfect sacrifice, we receive new life in Him.[5] Every believer is a temple,[6] connected to God and to one another by the same shared Holy Spirit[7] and are growing together to become one mighty temple, the Body of Christ.[8] Thus we as individual followers of Jesus are connected to God and to every true believer past, present and future.[9] This eternal family of God will reach it’s fullest unity when we are all gathered to our people.[10]
“Lord, I pray that You will remind me that while I live my life, I am never alone. I am connected to my Heavenly Father and to His eternal family by the Holy Spirit. As I am reminded of these truths, I pray that I would be comforted and strengthened and that I would share that comfort and strength with others. Amen.”
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
–Hebrews 12:1-3
Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
–Ephesians 2:19-22
[1] Genesis 5:24, Hebrews 11:5
[2] Revelation 7:9
[3] Hebrews 1:1-2
[4] Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:13, John 20:29
[5] II Corinthians 5:17
[6] I Corinthians 6:19-20
[7] Ephesians 4:5
[8] Ephesians 2:19-22
[9] II Peter 3:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18
[10] Ephesians 4:13
Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God 
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