For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come. Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13: 14, 15, NKJV.
Dear God, today we give You thanks for this hope, that, the best is yet to come! This we claim in the precious name of Jesus Christ, as we enter into the study of Your Word! Amen.
On this Thanksgiving Day, there is so much for which to be grateful! In a very special way, the Christian has wonderful blessings for which to give God thanks. Today, we are going to be looking at one of these blessings, the holy city, the New Jerusalem, which is the Christian’s final destination! As an immigrant, I know what it is like, to search for a city in which to dwell. When we arrived in the United States of America, we stayed with a relative for three weeks, before travelling on to what would afterwards become our home. It was a very nice neighborhood, in a good state, but it was not home. There were times, however, when I wondered if this was where my husband and our daughter, and I, should remain.
But because we had made plans to travel to where my brother was living, after three weeks we continued our journey. Soon we arrived at our destination. I took one look around me and knew that we had made the right decision, to keep on travelling. This was home. The beauty, the climate, the feeling of relaxation, all told us that we had made the right decision. Of course, with time, you begin to see, that for the Christian, earth has no “continuing city,” or, as we refer to it, final destination.
However, if we are not careful, we might put our stakes so deep into planet earth, that we could jeopardize further travel toward our true final destination. In spite of sin, there are such beautiful places here on earth! In spite of disappointments, there are such wonderful moments that we spend here on earth, in the company of family and friends. In spite of failures and frustrations, there are many earthly victories, that could keep us so enchanted with our surroundings, that we might lose sight of the fact, that we are merely pilgrims travelling through this “barren land.”
Our Scripture for today is a reminder that, “the best is yet to come,” and this is reason to, “offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.” Let us take a few minutes to look at some of the things that await us, in that, ” ‘ “city foursquare” ‘ ” (John R. Clements).
“Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, ‘ “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Then He who sat on the throne said, ‘ “Behold, I make all things new.” ‘ ” (Revelation 21: 1-5a).
My dear friends, that is our final destination! Hallelujah! And you know, this is a promise that we can take to the bank! Listen to this: And He said to me,’ “Write, for these words are true and faithful” (5b, emphasis provided).
Have a very Happy Thanksgiving day!