“Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house, to a land that I will show you’ ” (Genesis 12:1).
The number of young adults in America still living in their parents’ home is growing. A record total of 21.6 million Millennials (age 18–31) lived in their parents’ home in 2012, up from 18.5 million in 2007.
This represents 36 percent of the nation’s young adults and the highest numbers in four decades.
Did you know Abraham (first called Abram) was connected with his father’s household until he was seventy-five years old? He had already moved northwest from Ur of the Chaldeans to Haran with his father. After Terah died, the Lord called to Abraham, saying, “Get out of your country, from your family and from your father’s house.”
God was asking Abraham to do more than move off his father’s land. This was to be a total break from his family. This test of faith was much greater than finding new property on the other side of town. Abraham left his country with the intention to never return.
Sometimes the Lord wants us to sever certain ties for our own good. There might be relationships that pull us down, jobs that compromise our values, or living conditions that tempt us to forget about our heavenly home. In a certain sense, all Christians are like Abraham, pilgrims in this sinful world who are setting their sights on the heavenly Canaan.
Abraham’s faith is astonishing. He pulled up tent stakes, left the be- loved land of his fathers, turned away from a civilized country with fertile pastures, and journeyed to one of the most uncivilized nations on earth— one that practiced degrading forms of religion—and all of this when he was in his mid-seventies.
Is God calling you to sever any ties in your life?
Heavenly Father, may I follow You today as Abraham did, seeing a heavenly land with the eyes of faith.
For Further Study: Genesis 12:1–9; Acts 7:2–5; Hebrews 11:13–16