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

From time to time the people of earth make attempts to build the city that will last forever; they make attempts to build the ultimate capital, ending the constant struggles among competing kingdoms. They make attempts to build the city that will stand at the center of the earth and from which they can control the whole earth. It began in the land of Shinar with its Tower of Babel, but Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, and a host of lesser powers have all made attempts to achieve the goal.

Every such attempt has ultimately failed. Great and mighty kingdoms were forged together from nothing, but they never came close to the ultimate goal. They have all been chewed up by the teeth of time. The earth is full of their ruins, and archeologists are constantly finding evidence of them. Nevertheless, the goal still survives, the armies continue to march forth, and the lessons are not learned. Although our verse for today proclaims that there are no lasting cities here on earth, the people of earth continue their rebellious efforts to build one.

There is, however, one city that is different. It is different because it does not exist here on earth. It stands above the maelstrom of cities and kingdoms in constant struggle with one another. It is the New Jerusalem in heaven above that is being constructed under the supervision of Jesus Christ himself (John 14:3). Although it presently exists in heaven, it is the “city that is to come” of our verse for today, because one day it will descend from heaven and take its place on earth (Revelation 21:2). It will be the final and permanent capital of the whole earth.

Although the New Jerusalem presently exists in heaven, we can already see manifestations of its influence and power here on earth. In accordance with Jesus’ prophecy, God’s Kingdom is advancing all over the world (Acts 1:8). Even though we must dwell amidst the cities and kingdoms of earth, we should give our ultimate allegiance to the city and Kingdom of heaven. We should try to bring the rule of the heavenly city to bear in the affairs of the cities of earth.

It is the rule of the New Jerusalem and its Kingdom that we should seek first (Matthew 6:33).

By John Huisman, friend of Bible League International