¹⁵ And indeed if they had been thinking of that country from which they went out, they would have had opportunity to return.

The option always remains for the Christian to turn back. And in fact, that was the temptation of the readers, to turn back to the old way of the Law and ritualistic requirements of the Levitical code. But by option, we don’t mean a good alternative to the present walk of faith.

The terminology in this section of Hebrews plays off of Abraham’s leaving his original homeland of Mesopotamia, the city of Ur of the Chaldeans, in Euphrates River valley in what is present day Iraq. God had promised him a new land for himself, which would ultimately prove to be Palestine. Abraham dared to believe God and embarked on the journey of no return. At any time he was free to return, but he entertained no thought of that, for he was following God’s instruction; he was looking for the promises of God.

Abraham’s quest for a new country becomes the picture of every believer’s quest, namely a spiritual country, heaven with God. In all of Christianity, there is an overriding “hope,” a confident looking forward to the future resolution of all things, the final home for which we were created. Our lives here on earth are like Abraham’s; we are aliens in a foreign land, and our destiny is our future spiritual homeland, heaven.

None of the heroes of faith listed in Hebrews 11 turned back to their pre-faith life. Despite the hardship of following God and His righteous ways, they knew that things ahead were far better than things behind. This motivated them, encouraged them and strengthened them to face all kinds of disappointments, hardships and deprivation. They were “just a passing through,” as the old hymn puts it.

For many today, the temptation to turn back to the old way of life before faith in Christ may produce ritualistic adherence. For others it may be the draw back to licentious living where the flesh runs amok. But having “… once been enlightened and hav(ing) tasted of the heavenly gift and … hav(ing) tasted the powers of the age to come …” (Heb 6:4–5), there was no turning back. What we see ahead of us is sufficient to keep us looking ahead, even though none of us actually fully realizes it while living on this earth in the flesh. And that is the thrust of this chapter. As we read these stories of believers who dared to leave behind their old lives and follow God’s directions no matter the consequences, we are challenged to also keep moving ahead with God.

Lord, thank You for the examples of others who did not shrink back, but continued following Your paths. Help me to be strong and remain loyal to You.