A New City
Originally scheduled for October 10
In the great faith chapter, Hebrews 11, Abraham is described
as seeking a new city (verse 10). Suppose your employer transferred you to a
new location; you now need to locate a city in which to live. What would be
your criteria for selecting a city? Each of us would answer that question
slightly differently. Abraham had the same problem – only spiritually. What
did he seek?
“… a city with foundations.” American music says the
city should be built on “rock and roll”; most of us would like a foundation a
little more solid than that. People in earthquake country (think California)
will tell you that rock and roll is not what you want your city to be doing.
But what should you choose? Spiritually, the Christian seeks that city whose
foundations are in God. The church is built on the rock of Christ; the rest
of the world builds on transient and temporary things. Consider well the
things that last. Nothing moves God; He’s earthquake proof.
“…whose architect … is God.” Some communities are
planned; others just grow. Think of your own spiritual life this way; do you
just “let it happen” or do you follow your Maker’s instructions? One of those
instructions is that you are to remember Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross
regularly. It’s a command to focus on the fundamentals of the faith.
“whose … builder is God.” All the plans in the world
are meaningless unless you get a builder who can fulfill them. We can look to
the past to see what has been built and what lasts. The only builder who can
erect that which is eternal is God. Everyone else builds temporary structure.
God’s great work of architecture is the church; its
foundation is Jesus Christ. In communion we are asked to remember this; but we
are also told to do so, “until He comes.” We look forward to His return and
our eternal home; we look back to see the sacrifice which made that possible.
As you partake, consider well: just what foundation is your life resting on?
