LOOKING FOR A CITY

 Faith defined by Merriam Webster is

1a: allegiance to duty or a person: loyalty

 B{1}fidelity to one’s promises {2} sincerity of intentions

2a: belief and trust in and loyalty to God

 B: firm belief in something for which there is no proof.

3: something that is believed especially with strong conviction.

 As a student of science and engineering Christianity is as definition 2b says “belief in something you have no proof”.

Let us read of One Man’s faith.

 Heb 11:8   By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went.

:9   By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: 

:10  For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. 

 Heb 11:13   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.

:14   For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. 

:15   And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. 

:16 But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.

 The Faith of Abraham is a Symbol for the church today.  He went out not knowing where he was to go. He always lived traveling, always looking; looking for a city…

–>> He lived in Frail Shifting tents, never staying to long always moving.

–>>HE WAS LOOKING FOR A CITY WHOM THE DESIGHNER AND BUILDER WAS GOD.

–>>ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB   DIED LOOKING BUT NEVER FINDING THEY DIED CONFESSING THAT THEY WERE STRANGERS AND PILGRIMS ON THIS EARTH.

->WE NEED TO DO SOME CONFESSING THAT WE ARE NOT OF THIS WORLD….This world is not our home were just passing thru.

->WHEN WE CONFESS THIS. IT IS PLAIN TO ALL WHAT IS ON OUR MINDS, WHAT WE SEEK.

YOUR DESIRE SHOULD BE OF HEAVEN. ANYTHING ELSE SHOULD BE CUT OUT. Those that desire that city God will not forsake…

 

Stephen’s look at heaven.

Acts 6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking steadfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

IF you are full of God you will have the look of God. Why don’t we wake up and see that most church going people do not have the face of Christ. They have the look of this world.

Acts  7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost looked up steadfastly into Heaven, and saw the  Glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of GOD,

: 56 And said Behold, I see the Heavens opened and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God

Be filled with the Holy Ghost; Get your eyes on God. When you do that you will see his glory. He saw Christ standing. What a mind blowing thought. Christ carried enough to stand up in the face of what Stephen was going thru. As Stephen was being stoned to death in verse 60 Stephen says “Lord, lay not this sin to their charge” A forgiving heart to the last second of life.

 

PAUL TELLS OF HIS VISION OF HEAVEN

2 Cor 12:2   I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth 😉 such an one caught up to the third heaven.

Paul Is Speaking of Himself I believe that based on Stephens vision, this was when Paul was also stoned and left for dead.

: 3 And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth 😉 

: 4 How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter.

Not Possible is a better translation than lawful. The meaning being there is no human language adequate to describe the glories of heaven and if I could describe it you would not understand.

: 5 Of such an one will I glory: yet of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 

:6 For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me.  

:7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

->The Glories so mighty and wonderful that Satan was allowed to afflict and buffet him daily to humble him concerning the sight. Where are the men like Paul today when we need them?

  THE HEAVEN OF THIS MOMENT

 

Rev 4:2 And immediately I was in the spirit; and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

JOHN WROTE I WAS IN THE SPIRIT. To get to that place he was. We must shed this earth and its trappings. Shedding flesh and becoming Spirit.  

Psa 11:4   The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD’S throne is in heaven: he saw our Lord on his Throne. What a site that must have been.

: 3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald. 

->THE RAINBOW A SYMBOL OF GODS PROMISE TO NOAH AND HIS DIVINE MERCY THIS IS A COMPLETE RAINBOW AS YOU WOULD SEE FROM AN AIRPLANE, A COMPLETE CIRCLE SHOWING GODS TOTALITY AND POWER AND GLORY.

: 4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold. 

:5  And out of the throne proceeded lightning’s and thundering’s and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God. : 6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

THE CRYSTAL SEA STOOD. WHERE THE LAVER STOOD IN THE TEMPLE. IT WAS A PLACE OF CLEANSING; BUT HERE ITS PURITY SHOWS THAT NOTHING UNCLEAN HAS EVER BEEN HERE.

:7   And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle. 

:8  And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

: 9   And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 

This is a place of worship, where God’s glory is so strong you can only bow to that glory.

A place of never ending Praise.

 

Jesus said “I go to prepare you a place”

 

THE HEAVEN THAT AWAITS US THAT IS YET TO BE

 

Rev 21:1   And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 

: 2   And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Jerusalem a Semitic word meaning-city of peace- While The earthy city of Jerusalem has sin and endless wars this city will have no sin and see no war.

 

:3   And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God

THE HOME OF GOD IS WITH MENwe will dwell with him forever.

 

: 4   And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 

: 5   And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 

God shall wipe away all out tears, we shall no longer suffer pain or death. Are you looking for that city?

 

Isa 11:6   The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them.

Universal peace oh what a place that will be.

 

Rev 21:10   And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 

I have seen most of the great cities of this United States in my travels. I have walked the 3000 year old streets of the Mayan city of Tikal; but noting will compare to this city.

 

:11   Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most precious, even like a jasper stone, clear as crystal; 

 

: 12   And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel: 

 

: 13   On the east three gates; on the north three gates; on the south three gates; and on the west three gates.  

 

: 14   And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.

 

: 15   And he that talked with me had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. 

 

: 16   And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal. 

 

1500 miles on each side** one bible scholar has stated that by his calculations if each story is 10 feet high and that every man and woman that has ever lived went to heaven and zero to hell that each person would have a house 10 stories high and 10 miles squire**

 

This city if it sat on the united states would reach from Boston, Mass to Miami, FL and from New York City to Denver, Colorado.

 

IN rev 21:23 tells us “the city had no need of the sun, nether the moon, to shine in it for the Glory of God did light it.”  Jesus shall be our light.

 

All are welcome; but no sin shall enter. There is a sharp contrast between Eden and this city. Eden had one exit Guarded by a Flaming Sword. Here are 12 gates always open. Eden had evil deception and expulsion. Here a welcome rest for a weary traveler.

Are you ready for that rest? Is your name written in the lamb’s book of life?

Are you ready to say to Jesus I know I am a sinner? Are you ready to give your life to him?

John 3:16 says “whosoever that believes on him shall be saved”