Hebrews 13:14
For here have we no
continuing city, but we seek one to come.
The Christian is to put little stock in
the things of this world as they are all
- temporal
- fleeting and
- soon to be
dissolved
Our treasures are heavenly, not earthly.
One of the great problems we have
experienced in modern Christianity is the problem of affluence. We do so well
that, though we may say and even hope that our hearts are set on heaven, we
struggle with the whole concept of letting go of the things comfortable living
have afforded us. We even justify the having of these things as a sign of God’s
blessing upon us.
This passage zeroes in on just one of
those earthly things that we, especially in America, have come to hold on to
and believe is a blessing of God;
- our city
- our government
- our identity as
citizens of the Unites Sates of America
We have come to see our country as being:
- of God
- from God and
- for God
and thus look at the promotion,
protection and participation in our government as doing God’s work. The book of
Hebrews reminds us that, in fact, even this country is not a “continuing city”.
It will dissolve as will everything else in this world.
The response the passage seeks from us is
that we put no trust or hope in it but that we come out from it to bear full
and complete fellowship with Christ - His reproach.[1]
It is only there that we may enjoy the view of that city which is to come.
[1] I do not mean by this
that a Christian should have no part in his government or that he or she should
not participate in the political process. I mean to say that he or she should
be careful not to equate that political process as being Christian service.
Neither should the Christian, whether serving in the political realm or not,
place his or her hope in the results of politics. Our hope is in the sovereign
will and plan of God.
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