The Abiding City of God's People
G. Hebert, M. A. Hebrews 13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. I. I shall trace in these words THE OBJECT YEARNED AFTER BY EVERY MAN'S HEART, VIZ., A SETTLED AND SECURE CONDITION. Fully to enter into the beauty and force of this expression, it is necessary to imagine ourselves transported to a country exposed to the frequent devastation of war. Imagine yourselves in a land where the broken framework of the law cannot restrain each castle and town from pouring forth its band of marauding ruffians; or, suppose an enemy's host landed and spreading fire and ruin far and wide — you will then partly estimate the desirableness of dwelling in "a continuing city." II. Therefore, secondly, GOD CONDESCENDS TO GIVE MAN A WARNING RESPECTING IT, drawing at one stroke a picture of this world, by saying that no such permanent security is to be found here — "here we have no continuing city." Are riches secure? Your city has no bolts and bars to confine them. Friends, the nearest and dearest — what risk of their becoming estranged and chilled by misunderstanding. Earthquake, and hurricane, and plague, and war, are not necessary to brand instability on our comforts of this life. In the form of a slight cold Death lays its imperceptible touch upon the frame, and ere long comes to claim his own. Yet men will seek for these things, as if they were to endure, and will confide in their continuance to the last hour. It is necessary, then, that ye be warned by no less than the voice of God Himself, that "here ye have no continuing city." III. But, thirdly, GOD ASSURES US THAT THERE IS SUCH A STATE TO BE ATTAINED UNTO ELSEWHERE — there is "one to come." The original is more explicit, for the existence of such a state is expressly affirmed. It is spoken of not as a hope, an imagination, like those which man sets before his own eyes, but as a reality. The true force of the expressions, "the one to come," is, "the city that is to come." Yes, revelation sets before us a place of security beyond the utmost dream of human hope — "a continuing city," more complete than it hath entered into the heart of man to conceive, hath God prepared for them that love Him. It is figured forth as a city (Hebrews 11:16): "God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He hath prepared for them a city." It hath walls and gates: "Thou shalt call thy walls salvation, and thy gates praise." It is set forth specially under the figure of the "holy city," the New Jerusalem: "the city had no need of the sun, nor of the moon." The majesty of God is security for the peace and safety of that place. IV. But, fourthly, THE APOSTLE LETS FALL BY THE WAY A SHORT CHARACTERISTIC DESCRIPTION OF EVERY TRUE CHRISTIAN, VIZ., THAT HE IS A "SEEKER" OF THAT HEAVENLY CONDITION: "We seek one to come." Recognise in this description that earnestness is an implied characteristic of the people of God. As an exile seeks his father's land, or his native city, where the great majority of his kindred dwell, so the Christian soul feels towards heaven. He need not affect stoic indifference to the stations and duties on earth. St. Paul said, "I am of Tarsus in Cilicia, a citizen of no mean city." But let earthly things clash with heavenly, and you will see where his heart is, that he is earnestly seeking his native city, into whose privileges he was new born, though at a distance, precisely as Paul was born into the privileges of Rome, though his native place was in Cilicia. The earnestness of a Christian will show itself in all he does; and in proportion as he is earnest, is the development of his Christianity. Another remark to which this characteristic description of a Christian gives rise, is an encouraging one to those Christians who, though earnest, are cast down. A Christian's character is evidently that of an expectant, not a possessor. Ye are not yet come into the place which the Lord hath said He will give unto you. Be not therefore discouraged at being only an expectant of coming blessings. I would now fain bind this subject yet closer upon your individual hearts, by addressing three classes of persons. First, those that have suffered much from the mutability of earthly things; secondly, those that have been prosperous hitherto; and, thirdly, those that are entering on the trials of life. (G. Hebert, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come. WEB: For we don't have here an enduring city, but we seek that which is to come.