Eternal Perspective

I will make you a great nation; I will bless you and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing (Genesis 12: 2.) In Bible times, a person's name represented his character; to know someone's name was to know what the person was like. That's why God changed the name of some when He transformed their character. For example, the Lord wanted to bless all the nations of the earth through Abram, yet Abram's character was too weak for such a great task. God said He would make Abram's name great so that He could make him a blessing to future generations. Then over the next twenty-five years, God developed Abraham's character to match the name He had given him. God sees your life from His eternal perspective. He will take whatever time is necessary to grow your character to match His assignment for you. If you have not received a divine commission lately, it may be that your character needs maturing. Are you impatient to begin your work before God has refined your character? A small character will fail in a large responsibility every time. Don’t be too hasty to get to the work. It took twenty-five years before God entrusted Abraham with his first son and set in motion the establishment of the nation of Israel. Yet God was true to His word, and thousands of years later people continue to be blessed by the account of Abraham's life and by his descendant, Jesus. How is God building your character? Do you sense He has a task for you that will require a far greater man or woman than you presently are? Will you yield to God as He works in your life to prepare you for your next assignment?” —Henry T. Blackaby, Richard Blackaby, Experiencing God Day by Day

Our reading today recalls the twenty-five years Abraham was growing in character. During that time, we do well not to forget, Abraham faced moments of doubt, made mistakes, and even tried to take matters into his own hands. But it was in and through all the waiting, the failures and mis-steps, that God was shaping Abraham’s faith, teaching him trust, patience, and obedience. This journey reminds us that spiritual maturity doesn’t happen overnight; it is cultivated through seasons of waiting, trials, and learning to rely on God’s timing rather than our own. This is how Christian character develops in us. We may long to be strong in faith, patient in trials, and unwavering in trust, but these qualities aren’t instantly granted—they are formed through experience and perseverance. Just as Abraham’s faith was tested and refined, our own walk with God will involve challenges meant to grow us into the image of Christ. Instead of becoming discouraged in the waiting, let us embrace it as God’s way of preparing us for the fulfillment of His promises in our lives. —DH