每年夏天，我和妻子都会装上面包车，带着孩子们露营一周。孩子们现在已经长大了，可以帮忙搭建帐篷和营地，并适应一周的生活规律。我们都很期待这些一起外出的时光。
但是，住在帐篷里无法取代一个稳固的家。希伯来书的作者回顾了以色列族长的故事（我们在上周已经回顾了这些故事），明确指出有更深层次的东西在推动我们寻找家园。凭着信心，我们“等候那座有根基的城，就是神所经营所建造的”。
当然，并非所有人都能认识到这种更深层次的追求。我们常常拔起木桩，去寻找能让我们生活得更好的东西。我们想像自己或用一周的郊野渡假，或结交新的男朋友、女朋友，或用烈酒，或用新的工作，或用一个更漂亮的家——或者任何似乎能满足我们渴望的东西，来应付现实处境中的艰辛和痛苦。但与我们的救主为我们准备的“有许多住处”的家（约翰福音 14:2）相比，这个世界所能提供的最好的东西也不过是帐篷露营而已。
族长们凭着信仰，去了某个地方。他们或跟随上帝的呼召，或发现上帝正与他们同在。他们明白了，仅仅去某个地方永远无法满足他们的渴望，只有上帝才能满足他们的渴望。
我们也明白吗？
救主，求你以你的灵引领我们走过人生的旅程；以你的恩典把我们安全地带到你为我们预备的家。阿们。
希伯来书 11:8-22
8亚伯拉罕因着信，蒙召的时候就遵命出去，往将来要得为业的地方去；出去的时候，还不知往哪里去。
9他因着信，就在所应许之地作客，好像在异地居住帐篷，与那同蒙一个应许的以撒、雅各一样。
10因为他等候那座有根基的城，就是神所经营、所建造的。
11因着信，连撒拉自己，虽然过了生育的岁数，还能怀孕，因她以为那应许她的是可信的。
12所以从一个仿佛已死的人就生出子孙，如同天上的星那样众多，海边的沙那样无数。
13这些人都是存着信心死的，并没有得着所应许的，却从远处望见，且欢喜迎接，又承认自己在世上是客旅，是寄居的。
14说这样话的人，是表明自己要找一个家乡。
15他们若想念所离开的家乡，还有可以回去的机会。
16他们却羡慕一个更美的家乡，就是在天上的。所以神被称为他们的神，并不以为耻，因为他已经给他们预备了一座城。
17亚伯拉罕因着信，被试验的时候，就把以撒献上；这便是那欢喜领受应许的，将自己的独生的儿子献上。
18论到这儿子，曾有话说：“从以撒生的才要称为你的后裔。”
19他以为神还能叫人从死里复活，他也仿佛从死中得回他的儿子来。
20以撒因着信，就指着将来的事给雅各、以扫祝福。
21雅各因着信，临死的时候给约瑟的两个儿子各自祝福，扶着杖头敬拜神。
22约瑟因着信，临终的时候提到以色列族将来要出埃及，并为自己的骸骨留下遗命。
"They did not receive the things promised . . . admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth." - Hebrews 11:13
Every summer my wife and I load up our van and spend a week camping with our kids. The children are old enough now to help with setting up the tent and the campsite and settling in to the routines of the week. We look forward to these times away together.
But living in a tent is no substitute for a solid home. The writer of Hebrews, looking back at the stories of Israel's patriarchs (which we've examined in the past week), makes clear that something deeper drives our search for home. In faith we are "looking for the city . . . whose architect and builder is God."
Not all of us might recognize this deeper search, of course. Often we pull up stakes in search of something that will make our lives better. We imagine we can trade the hardships and heartaches of one situation for a week at the cottage, or with a new boyfriend or girlfriend, or with a stiff drink, or a new job, or a nicer home—whatever will seem to fulfill our longing. But the best this world can offer is mere tent camping compared to the home with "many rooms" that our Savior prepares for us (John 14:2).
The patriarchs, by faith, went somewhere. They followed God's call or discovered that God was with them as they went. And they learned that just going somewhere could never satisfy the longing that only God could fulfill.
Do we know that as well?
Savior, lead us by your Spirit through our journey of life. Bring us safely to the home you have prepared for us by your grace. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
