And surely, we may say, it was only thus that Abram could triumph; and let no one who moves not, in some measure, in the same sphere, affect to despise the world--nothing can be more truly vain. There must be the experimental acquaintance with _the_ better thing--the fondly cherished hope of "_good things to come_"--ere we can obtain full victory over present things, and our own worldly desires. "Ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, _knowing in yourselves_ that ye have in _heaven a better and an enduring substance_" (Heb. x. 34). If we are really waiting for the manifestation of the glory, we shall be found standing apart from everything which will be judged in that day: and it is written, "Yet once more, I shake not the earth only but also heaven; and this word, yet once more, signifieth the removing of those things that are shaken, as of things that are made, that those things which cannot be shaken may remain" (Heb. xii. 26, 27).
We have, in the last verse of our truly interesting chapter, a happy feature in the character of the true man of faith. Abram would not force others to walk according to his elevated standard. Although _he_ might be able to reject, in the most unreserved manner, the offers of the king of Sodom, yet _others_ might not be able to do so, and therefore he says, with regard to "Aner, Eshcol, and Mamre, _let them_ take _their portion_." Our walk should ever be "according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith" (Rom. xii. 3). We have seen, in our own day, many persons led, at the outset, to give up a variety of worldly things, and afterwards plunge still deeper into those things; and why? Because they acted through mere excitement or human influence, and were not able to say with Abram, "_I have lift up my hand unto the Lord_."