Pitching A Tent The Week After Camp

Hebrews 11:8-10

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

It is good to say that we had a successful week out at Camp Rock Creek. Things were very positive as I saw the Lord working in all sorts of ways in the lives of our kids, their parents, and our staff. Needless to say, there is a reason why people keep returning to camp. It is a place where lives are changed.

Having spent a week away from home, I can say that I am glad to return to the comfort of having my own bed, my own shower, and my own stuff around me. Of course, I hardly roughed it at camp this year. I enjoyed sleeping in the director’s cabin with AC, a private shower, and a nice bed. On the other hand, Jessica (my wife) slept on a tarp in a hot wooden shack with ten little girls. Relatively speaking, camp was not too difficult for me. Still, there is something nice about sleeping in one’s own bed.

As the week unfolded, I did consider again a verse that I love from Hebrews 11. In verse 8 we learn of Abraham’s faith to go where God sent him. But by verse 9 we see exactly what motivated Abraham. The Bible says in this verse that Abraham arrived in the promise land, only to live in tents for the rest of his life. Not only did Abraham dwell in tents, but so did his children and grandchildren. When I read these words, I honestly at times pass over them as culturally irrelevant. Abraham lived thousands of years ago. Didn’t everyone back then live in tents? According to Hebrews 11, they didn’t. Abraham had the chance to live in a house but chose to live in a tent, because of his conviction that God had been preparing a greater dwelling for him. Talk about commitment. I couldn’t dwell in a cabin more than a week, but Abraham lived his life like a sojourner, because of his God. What a powerful faith Abraham had! Too often, my words are “give me my bed” instead of “I long for you, God.”