Everything on earth is in preparation for Heaven. If you don’t understand what the writer is saying about Abraham as a model of faith, you’ll be perpetually paralyzed and completely frustrated. You must understand that God only leads you one step at a time. He doesn’t tell you what lies around the bend. But even when you get around the bend, you must understand it’s not going to be what you were hoping for, because what you really crave is Heaven.

In spiritual life, the Lord will take you as far as you want to go — and not one step further. If you choose to take one baby step and stop, God will still love you because His love for you is not based on anything you do or don’t do. But if you choose to walk by faith from Ur of the Chaldees all the way to the Land flowing with milk and honey — He’ll be with you every step of the way.

People wonder why some folks are so spiritual, why others seem particularly blessed, why others are mightily used. It’s not that God is playing favorites. It’s just that those who seem to have a special relationship with God are simply those who chose to keep going. Whether it’s in expression of praise, gifts of the Spirit, or aspects of ministry — however far you want to go in spiritual life, God will never say to you, ‘You’re going a little too far. You’re getting a little too spiritual.’ Never.