Longing for a heavenly country

Hebrews 11
13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance,admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one.Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

How do I long for a better country a heavenly one? 
In what ways do I turn my eyes back and think I want to settle for some earthly promises? 

In what ways is the heavenly country better? 

1. No more death
2. No more sin
3. No more twisted thinking because of my flesh
4. I will be able to see God clearly and be with him fully. 
5. We will dwell in a city that will last
6. No more pain
7. God will wipe away every tear
8. I will be fully who I was made to be
9. No more little deaths: no sickness, no disease
10. We will all have a new body
11. I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever! Perfect work and perfect rest. 
12. I will receive an eternal inheritance: one that will never perish, fade or spoil
13. I will be fully saved from sin and death
14. Evil will be no more it will have been defeated
15. No more hatred
16. No more doubt, no more confusion
17. The fullness of love will be expressed and experienced
18. I will see God! 
19. I will know God truly and completely as he has always known me
20. I can truly rest for I will enter the real sabbath rest promised. 
21. Hebrews 11:  40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

How am I tempted to turn back for earthly things? 

1. Wanting to feel important
2. Wanting the rest now instead of waiting for the true sabbath rest
3. Not being willing to endure in love and faith
4. Getting overwhelmed by how little time I feel I have and how little of a difference I feel I can make
5. Not willing to be a slave to anyone even the Lord and even love - but not believing there are only two options; being a slave to sin or a slave to Christ
1. Its true though my selfish heart does not really in the end bring me joy. For I am a slave to my selfish sinful heart and that attitude means I can never be content. 
2. But In Christ his joy can be in me and my joy can be complete as I live for Christ!
6. Not wanting to dwell in tents but to be at rest. Its not about the place as much as the feeling of rest I long for. 

God I ask that you continue to teach me and help me claim the promise of your true sabbath rest: 

Hebrews 4

9 There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; 10 for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works,[e] just as God did from his. 11 Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.

Let me run the race with endurance for the joy set before me. That means both running and walking stopping to worship to experience a taste of sabbath. To be still and know and remember that you are God. That you will be exalted. That you have done the work of salvation for me and that my role is to endure to the end holding to your promises and hoping in you. Its just about finishing the race - I don't have to sprint or come in first, all I have to do is finish the race of faith.