City Planner

July 7

Read: Hebrews 11:8-22

City Planner

“For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God…These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth…But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” ( v. 11:10,13,16)

What would the ultimate city look like to you? How would you describe the perfect city… laid out in the most perfect way… offering the very best of everything? What is a “city” anyways? Is it something like New York or London? Or is it a small town in your favorite part of the world?

Most of us do not think of God as a city planner. But did you realize that God is actually building a city? (cf. 11:10) A city has always represented a place that is settled… a place where people have put down roots, cultivated the land, built buildings, and they are choosing to live there. Cities always begin because of something unique about the place they are located… they have stories about who settled there and how they got started. It is wild to think about, but God is building a city with “foundations”… a city that is going to last forever. He is the founder. He is the architect. He is the one designing it, and it is going to ultimately be the place we call home! This is the “city of God”.

Because we have this better city being built for us, we are called “strangers and exiles on the earth.” (v.13) We will never be fully “at home” here because of this truth. God has called us to and is preparing for us HIS perfect city. I know personally that I wrestle with this a lot. I long to be “settled” in this world… and yet never fully get there. There is a restlessness that I experience in this world… it is a longing for this very city… the same way that these men and women of faith did long ago.

We all desire a “better country, that is, a heavenly one” whether we realize it or not. This is actually a mark of being a follower of Christ. When you do not feel at home in this world, do not despair - God is building his city and you will live in it. When you feel like a stranger or an exile, this is OK. Part of walking in FAITH is looking forward to the city of God. Spend some time today imagining what the perfect city for you would look like. Set your heart on this truth - you are called to read in a heavenly city built by God, this is your destiny… it is where God is leading you. All of the great people of faith understood this (as outlined here in this passage). May the Lord give us hearts and minds that are energized by this coming reality in Christ. Love you guys! - JDP