Wrapping up Hebrews this morning. What a trip! Jesus is better! Better than the angels, better than Moses, better than the Levitical priesthood. The promises are better, too. As is the way of faith, the way that pleases God (Heb. 11:6). But I’m reminded this morning that the best is yet to come.

For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.

(Hebrews 13:14 ESV)

I live in a house on a street, but it won’t last. I live within the limits of a city in Washington, but it won’t be around forever. I’ve been accepted as a resident of the United States, but it’s only a temporary residence. I possess a Canadian passport, but my true citizenship is in heaven. I’m one of billions who live on this planet, but only for a little while. Nice house . . . nice city . . . blessed countries . . . amazing world . . . but I’m reminded this morning, this ain’t the prize. This is but my temporary home. Instead, my heart should be set on seeking the city that is to come.

How easy is it to become entrenched in the here and now? Pretty easy. How tempting can it be to put down roots so we can pursue goals and invest in things that only pay dividends for a relatively short period of time? Pretty tempting. Oh, that God would renew His people’s hearts toward pilgrimage.

That He would turn our eyes toward the city that is to come.

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

And I saw no temple in the city, for its temple is the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb. And the city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and its lamp is the Lamb. By its light will the nations walk, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it . . .

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and Hs servants will worship Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

(Revelation 21:2, 10b, 22-24, 22:3-5 ESV)

Okay, so how’s that for a travel brochure? Talk about your all-inclusive destination spot. Doesn’t it make you want to be there? That’s the city for which we should be living.

Oh, that God would set our hearts towards that city. That the good things of the here and now would be but continuous foretastes of the unfathomably better things of the there and then. So that, even in our sufferings, we would ever know that this present time is not worth comparing with the glory to be revealed (Rom. 8:18).

That daily we would wake, and we would journey, seeking the city that is to come.

Only by His grace. Always for His glory.