Then Abraham stood up from before his dead, and spoke to the sons of Heth, saying, “I am a foreigner and a visitor among you. Give me property for a burial place among you, that I may bury my dead out of my sight.”
And the sons of Heth answered Abraham, saying to him, “Hear us, my lord: You are a mighty prince among us; bury your dead in the choicest of our burial places. None of us will withhold from you his burial place, that you may bury your dead.” Gen 23:3-6
As I read this scripture the thought came to me about how respected and well treated Abraham was.
After living in the promised land for many years, his beloved wife, Sarah dies. He has not needed a burial ground but now the need arises.
When he asks for a place to lay Sarah, the sons of Heth tell him to take the choicest of their burial places and that no one would withhold from him.
This is a far cry from the way Christians are treated today. Something has changed through the years.
Why is it that many in our country disrespect the roots of Christianity from which we sprung?
Why is it the Bible is so disregarded that it is no longer read in school and is often banned in other places?
The answer lies in Abraham.
We are people of faith but we must also be people of works.
It is written that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. James 2:20-24
Perhaps the world does not treat us as Christians because we do not live as Christians.
We have the faith, we believe in God, but the evidence through our works is greatly lacking.
It is past time for Christians to not only say we believe in God but to live it!