They saw it from a distance. They embraced it with great joy. They pursued it unwaveringly. Their trust in their dying Savior Jesus Christ was settled. Their hope was steadfast in the resurrection. Their gaze was set in His promise to return! They clearly understood their PURPOSE, their POWER, and His PRESENCE.

What did they possess that we desperately need today? The writer to the book of Hebrews plainly explains their unrelenting faith. 

“And what shall I more say? for the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection: 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.” (Heb. 11:32–38)

These did not FLINCH in the face of ADVERSITY, nor back away in the pool of MEDIOCRITY, but pressed onward with great TENACITY!

“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.” (Heb. 11:39–40)

By the way, the word perfect is τελειόω, which means accomplished, finished, or to fulfill. In other words, Heb. 11:13 sums it up: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.”