“Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God.” (Psalm 87:3)

While this Psalm was intended to illustrate the Jewish city of Jerusalem as God’s holy mount, the place of God’s temple and thus the dwelling place of God, it also can be seen in the prophetic sense of the future City of God, prepared for the faithful saints.

In ancient times the Faithful looked forward to a city that would be built by God. This would be a city with foundations, and only the faithful could enter its gates. Hebrews tells us about those “…who died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth.” (11:13) The writer follows that by saying that these people desired a heavenly country. Then, “Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.” (11:16)

In Revelation, this city is mentioned again and is specified as the “heavenly Jerusalem.” It is the city prepared by God. He is the designer and builder, not David and not Solomon. They built manmade structures, but they were not the structures looked for by Abraham and the other witnesses of faith.

Jesus said He was going back to heaven to prepare a place for His people. One day He will return and collect His people and take them to live in that Holy Place. He will take them to a city without created light for God will be its light. This city will provide all that is needed for the people of God to live with Him forever. Yes, glorious things are spoken of the city of God.

Task for Today: Do you, like Abraham and Isaac and Jacob look for a city with foundations designed and built by God? Today, acknowledge that you are a stranger and an exile on this earth because your city is being built in heaven. Many today look for the return to power of the city of Jerusalem with Christ as its king. They are not strangers to earth, they desire to live on earth. They are not in exile but desire this place rather than the city God is building; His is a heavenly one which is why you must desire it rather than earth.