"By faith Noah, being warned about things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared a ship for the saving of his house, through which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.
"By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed to go out to the place which he was to receive for an inheritance. He went out, not knowing where he went. By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a land not his own, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them and embraced them from afar, and having confessed that they were STRANGERS and PILGRIMS on the earth...But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed of them, to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
"By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to share ill treatment with God's people than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a time, considering the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt; for he looked to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king; for he endured, as seeing him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the sprinkling of the blood, that the destroyer of the firstborn should not touch them.
"By faith they passed through the Red Sea as on dry land. When the Egyptians tried to do so, they were swallowed up. By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after they had been encircled for seven days. By faith Rahab the prostitute didn't perish with those who were disobedient, having received the spies in peace.
"What more shall I say? For the time would fail me if I told of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel, and the prophets - who through faith subdued kingdoms, worked out righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, grew mighty in war, and caused foreign armies to flee. Women received their dead by resurrection.
"Others were tortured, not accepting their deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection. Others were tried by mocking and scourging, yes, moreover by bonds and imprisonment. They were stoned. They were sawn apart. They were tempted. They were slain with the sword. They went around in sheep skins and in goat skins; being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated - of whom the world was not worthy - wandering in deserts, mountains, caves, and the holes of the earth." ~ Hebrews 11:8-10, 13, 16, 24-38
We often need reminding that serving our Lord Jesus is not all peaches and cream! Many of the saints who are in the "Hall of Fame for the Faithful" suffered greatly for Christ. They purposefully rejected this world, took up their cross and followed the LORD, even to the point of death. Tradition says the prophet Isaiah was sawn in half by the wicked king Manasseh. In Acts 7, Spirit-filled Stephen was stoned to death, as he cried out, "Lord, don't hold this sin against them!"
Believers know "moving day" is right around the corner. A new place has been prepared for us in the Father's house (John 14:2). That's why we're "strangers and pilgrims" in this world. In the world, but certainly not of the world. "Therefore let's also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let's run with perseverance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." ~ Hebrews 12:1-2
Grace, Peace and Jahspeed!
All Scripture references are from the World English Bible (WEB).