22 THE CITY

THE CITY

"But they now aspire to a better land—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a CITY for them!" Hebrews 11:16

It is a wondrous fact—that as poor, as depraved, and as sinful as we now are—that God is not ashamed of us! By the faith which he has given us—we "have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God!" This is our eternal home!

Jesus calls it, "the city of my God!"

John in vision, "saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God!" Revelation 21:2-3

Such a city, for . . .
costly materials,
excellent workmanship,
vast extent,
perfect purity, and
for the health and happiness of the inhabitants—was never known! No sin,
no sorrow,
no tears,
no disease there! For "the one sitting on the throne said: Look, I am making all things new!"Revelation 21:5 On that city—the glory of God rests forever, and there the Lamb forever dwells!

Here we shall find every delightful accommodation; the saints will be connected in bonds of holy citizenship; they will enjoy perfect satisfaction, and be elevated to the highest honor. This city was founded before time!

Jesus promised his people: "There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. When everything is ready—I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am!" John 14:2-3 This city will be stored with all that can gratify and delight us! We shall possess and enjoy it forever!

How wonderful, that as poor, as sinful, and as vile as we are—the infinitely great and glorious Jehovah should not be ashamed to be called our God; but that he should prepare for us a city—and such a city! How good, how gracious, how deep God’s thoughts of us must have been! Well may David say, "How precious also are your thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them."

Blessed be God for thinking of us, providing for us, and revealing to us such astonishing things! May we be daily preparing to pass over Jordan—and possess them!

"But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take these weak mortal bodies of ours and change them into glorious bodies like his own!" Php 3:20-21