We Are Not Seeking, But Receiving the Kingdom

One passage in Hebrews gives the impression that a life of faith means nothing but terror and turmoil:

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth." (Hebrews 11: 13)

Later:

"And others had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment:

"They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword: they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented;

"(Of whom the world was not worthy:) they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth." (Hebrews 11: 36-38)

In some cases, men and women of faith did not receive the promise, or in other cases not only did they not receive the promise, but they endure untold privations.

"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise:

"God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect." (Hebrews 11: 39-40)

What is the promise which these men and women of faith did not receive? Why, the Holy Spirit, granted to us freely because of Jesus' death and resurrection. Peter preached on the day of Pentecost:

"This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses.

"Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear." (Acts 2: 32-33)

This promise has been held forth to us from Jesus' earthly ministry:

"If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?" (Luke 11: 13)

and

"Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom. (Luke 12: 32)

We receive the Kingdom of God through the Holy Spirit, the promise which the Old Testaments saw by faith. which every believer in the New Covenant receives by faith:

"For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost." (Romans 14: 17)

We do not have to wonder whether we will receive this promise or not, for those who believe in Jesus Christ have received the promise of the Kingdom already.