Are you a citizen of this country? Of this world? Or are you a stranger, a pilgrim? Just passing through? Are you comfortable with living here or do you feel that you are a stranger, that you do not fit into this society, into this world?
There was a man of God who was looking for a permanent place to live. Did he find what he was looking for? “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. 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: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” Hebrews 11:8–10
God called Abraham to leave his father’s house, to embark on a journey. He did not know where God was leading him. He sojourned as a stranger in a strange country. Ultimately, he was looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. On this earth, Abraham never settled down permanently. Is this also our experience? Are we also pilgrims and strangers, looking for a city? Not a city of this world, which is corrupted and sinful; but, a city made by God.
Daniel was in a high position, a prime minister of a worldly kingdom, Babylon. He lived in a palace, surrounded with servants, riches and luxuries. But, was he satisfied with all these riches and honour? No. Where did we find him three times a day?
“Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he did aforetime.” Daniel 6:10
Daniel prayed three times a day, at his open window, towards Jerusalem. All the glory and the greatness of the magnificent city of Babylon did not attract him. His heart was in the city of his fathers, in the city of his God—Jerusalem—which at this time was laid in ruins, the temple was burned, and the walls were broken. Yet it held something that the city of Babylon could not offer him.
The captive children of Israel were taken to Babylon, away from their beloved city. “By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion. How shall we sing the LORD’s song in a strange land? If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning. If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.” Psalm 137:1–6
The captives withdrew from the city into nature. Beside the rivers of Babylon they gathered into small groups, to weep and lament, and to remember Jerusalem. They knew many joyful songs, songs of victory; however, they could not sing in this strange land. They hung their harps upon the willows. In their sorrow, they could not sing the songs of Zion. They were homesick. The cities of Babylon did not satisfy them.
Babylon was a very beautiful city. The name Babylon means “Gate of gods” in the Chaldean language. The palace of their king was twice the size of the whole city of Jerusalem. It covered eight miles, with hanging gardens, built on arched terraces, each rising above the other, and rich in all the luxuriance of artificial cultivation. The colossal temple rose eight stories high. The splendor and glory of Babylon far surpassed the city of Jerusalem. Their feasts and entertainment was the most attractive. The best artists in the world had been gathered there. The glory of the nations had been taken to Babylon. It was the centre of the world.
All the splendor did not satisfy these Hebrew captives. They withdrew from these cities, seeking solitary places, along the rivers, shedding bitter tears in their longing for their own country.
As time passed, many became used to the life in Babylon. They learned the language; they built houses and gardens; they had their friends there. They enjoyed the entertainment and the luxurious life in Babylon. They had no more desire to go back. They had forgotten the city of their fathers, the city of their God. They were not homesick anymore. And when finally the time came that they could go home after 70 years, only a small remnant of the vast army of the people of Israel took their journey back to Jerusalem. Most of them decided to remain in Babylon.
Do we have this same danger today, that we have forgotten our God, our homeland, and we have become used to life here? We are comfortable in this world, and our homesickness is forgotten, and we settle down to enjoy life here.
There was a little remnant who had felt that they were out of place, as pilgrims and strangers, and they now rejoiced. “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” Psalm 126:1–3. Now they were singing, they were filled with laughter. It was as a dream to them. Their tears had changed to gladness.
What was there in Jerusalem that they could not forget? What made this city so special? “Nor by the earth; for it is His footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King.” Matthew 5:35
“Thus saith the LORD; I am returned unto Zion, and will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem: and Jerusalem shall be called a city of truth; and the mountain of the Lord of hosts the holy mountain.” Zechariah 8:3
Jerusalem is the city of the great King, Jesus, and the city of truth. Pilate asked Jesus, “what is truth?” Millions of others are also seeking for the truth. They may learn the words of truth in Jerusalem.
“And it shall be in that day, that living waters shall go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the former sea, and half of them toward the hinder sea: in summer and in winter shall it be.” Zechariah 14:8
Like the woman at the well, in Jerusalem the thirsty soul will find the Water of Life, so that he will never thirst again.
“And men shall dwell in it, and there shall be no more utter destruction; but Jerusalem shall be safely inhabited.” Zechariah 14:11. It was a place of safety, a city of refuge for a sin-sick soul to flee, where the avenger of blood would not reach him.
“As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you; and ye shall be comforted in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 66:13. It is a place of quiet rest where the tormented soul will find peace and comfort. It is a shelter from the storms and winds. It is a place where all is calm.
“But be glad and rejoice for ever in that which I create: for, behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. And I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and joy in My people: and the voice of weeping shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of crying.” Isaiah 65:18–19. A place of joy and rejoicing, a place where songs of happiness are heard. A place without sorrow, where crying is no longer heard.
“And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem.” Luke 2:38. Jerusalem is also the city of redemption, where one who is sold under sin can be redeemed and be set free. There we find our Saviour, our Redeemer, Jesus Christ. There the burden of sin will roll off our heart, and we will be free.
Three times a year the people of Israel took their journey towards Jerusalem for the days of feasting and worship. On foot, they traveled for several days over rough roads, eagerly looking forward to the gathering in the city.
However, the people sinned. Because of the sin of the people in Jerusalem, what must come upon them?
“Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, and thy spoil shall be divided in the midst of thee. For I will gather all nations against Jerusalem to battle; and the city shall be taken, and the houses rifled, and the women ravished; and half of the city shall go forth into captivity, and the residue of the people shall not be cut off from the city.” Zechariah 14:1–2. Because of their sins, there was war, many were taken captive into Babylon, and only a small remnant of the people were left in the city.
“Shall I not, as I have done unto Samaria and her idols, so do to Jerusalem and her idols?” Isaiah 10:11. Samaria had already been taken into captivity. Jerusalem would suffer the same fate.
“And the light of Israel shall be for a fire, and his Holy One for a flame: and it shall burn and devour his thorns and his briers in one day; And shall consume the glory of his forest, and of his fruitful field, both soul and body: and they shall be as when a standbearer fainteth. And the rest of the trees of his forest shall be few, that a child may write them.” Isaiah 10:17–19
What will be left? “I will also leave in the midst of thee an afflicted and poor people, and they shall trust in the name of the LORD.” Zephaniah 3:1
“And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 4:3
It is only a remnant that shall remain; a poor and afflicted people. The unclean has been removed. The selfish and ambitious are not there anymore. The careless and indifferent are not found there. The world-loving has gone, the fearful and cowards are not among the remnant. Only the ones who are holy, sanctified, they shall remain and be holy still.
Where is this holy city today?
“But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels, To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect.” Hebrews 12:22–23. The church of God is the spiritual city of God—Jerusalem—the place where truth can be found, where the remnant shall remain.
In this city the special work of God is being done. “And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.” Ezekiel 9:4
The sealing angel is not going through the world, only through the city of God—Jerusalem—to place a mark on the foreheads of men and women who are concerned for others, who are not selfish, but who sigh and cry for the sins of others. They are sealed, and they remain in the city after others are cut down.
God’s church has always been given the message, telling people to leave Babylon. “Go ye forth of Babylon, flee ye from the Chaldeans, with a voice of singing declare ye, tell this, utter it even to the end of the earth; say ye, The LORD hath redeemed His servant Jacob.” Isaiah 48:20
“Ho, ho, come forth, and flee from the land of the north, saith the LORD: for I have spread you abroad as the four winds of the heaven, saith the LORD. Deliver thyself, O Zion, that dwellest with the daughter of Babylon.” Zechariah 2:6–7
“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, My people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4
The message is also clear for today. God’s people are asked to come out of spiritual Babylon. What if some choose to ignore the message and decide to stay? What will happen to them? They will receive the sins of Babylon, and also her plagues.
“And it shall be, that whoso will not come up of all the families of the earth unto Jerusalem to worship the King, the LORD of hosts, even upon them shall be no rain.” Zechariah 14:17. Those who will not come to Jerusalem and worship the King, the Lord of hosts, will receive no rain—the latter rain. The outpouring of the Spirit of God will not come upon those in Babylon.
Not only are we called into a spiritual city, to the family of God, to the city of refuge here, but to the city of God in the New Jerusalem, the city which our father Abraham was looking for.
“For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children. But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.” Galatians 4:25–26
We are looking for a city that is free, not the one that is in bondage. Jerusalem, the city in Israel that for centuries had been the holy city for God’s people, still today is the most important city to the three great religions of the world—Jewish, Christian, and Islam.
To God’s people the city of earthly Jerusalem has become meaningless because it is a Christless city. This occurred in the time when the Saviour and King was cast out of that city. Since then it has had nothing more to offer than any other city on the earth. It was no more the city of the great King. It no longer offered peace, comfort, living waters, or refuge.
But, we have not been left homeless. While Christ pronounced a curse upon the city, saying that not a stone will be left upon a stone, and it shall be desolate, He went on to say that there is another city where, “I go and prepare a place for you,” a city that is free, which God made and not man.
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 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. 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. And he carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain, and shewed me that great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 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: And the twelve gates were twelve pearls; every several gate was of one pearl: and the street of the city was pure gold, as it were transparent glass. And the city had no need of the sun, neither the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.” Revelation 21:2, 4–5, 10, 12, 21, 23, 25
“And he shewed me a pure river of water of life clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.” Revelation 22:1–2
This is our home. This is the city of our God. You need to ask yourself one thing. Do you have your passport ready, that you may enter in? “Blessed are they that do His commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.” Revelation 22:14
They have right to the tree of life. They may enter in through the gates into the city.
My friend, are you homesick? Are you a stranger and pilgrim here or have you forgotten the city of our God? The city where our names are written in letters of gold, where we have mansions ready for us and a crown of life waiting. Where we see our Saviour face to face. May we all meet in this city, never to part again. Amen.
Adapted from a sermon by Timo Martin