NO CONTINUING CITY by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Feb 6, 1900

NO CONTINUING CITY.

By Uriah Smith

In Heb. 13:14 the apostle says, “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” This text is the inspired pen-picture of an ever-changing scene. The words are the summing up of the idea the apostle entertained of the position of Christians in this world. As human beings, Christians are members of a vast, powerful, and complex association, which we term human society; but with all its great attributes, it still lacks one; and that is permanence. Nothing continues. The world passes, and is passing, continually away. And such a place as this cannot therefore satisfy the seeker after immortality. And this is all right; for, just catching a glimpse of the nature of this world, and the course of action it delights to pursue, he feels that he does not wish a continuing city here; and a little observation and experience show him at once that he cannot find it here.

The text implies the consciousness of a lack, because there is nothing here enduring. Man’s innermost being longs for something that is firmly established, and abiding. Death, decay, change, and uncertainty are foreign to his nature; they run counter to that longing for immortality which has been planted in his breast; but Christianity relieves the situation by bringing to view the fact that just such a continuing city God has provided for him. It is that city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is he who inhabiteth eternity, and who has framed it with such skill that it, too, shall be everlasting.

And so the apostle immediately adds, “But we seek one to come.” And this one that we seek has this very characteristic which everything here lacks,

that is, permanence. Once reached, that city becomes our permanent home; once admitted into its gates, the weary traveler is no more an emigrant, or a pilgrim. That city henceforth is to be his continual abiding place, his everlasting home.

The city or country of Christians is not here. The true and eternal happiness of Christians is not here. He that seeks happiness in this world, not only will not find it here, but will not find it in the world to come. The same effort put forth by many a man to find happiness and satisfaction here, would secure these blessings for him in the continuing city that is to come.

But efforts, misdirected or misapplied, will be as barren of results in the spiritual world as they are of success in the temporal things of this world. Here our conversation should be “in heaven, from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ;” our country is paradise; our city is the heavenly Jerusalem; our fellow citizens are the angels, the patriarchs and prophets, the apostles and martyrs; our King is Christ. If Christians, our aspiration, therefore, is to lead such a life here in this pilgrimage that we may be able always to long for such a country as we know that to be. To lead men to seek for this city, all that would seem to be necessary would be to let them know that there is such a better country, and that it can be obtained by every one who will seek for it.

Referring to the mutability of this life, a popular writer says: “Here we are born in the midst of change; we are surrounded by changes in every form; we know nothing by experience but change; we are the subject and the sport of change;” and so it will be here, “till that change cometh which shall never change.” Under these circumstances is it strange that the human heart clings persistently to its longings for the unchangeable and eternal?

“Here have we no continuing city.” We are under the unalterable necessity of change. This is the absolute condition of things here. And this fact may affect us, or impress us, in various ways, according to our relation to the hope that has been set before us. For instance, it may darken, or it may brighten, life; it may depress and discourage us, or it may inspire us with undying hope; we may find in it the highest summons to courage, or the excuse for the most enervating sentimentalism. The psalms teach us a good lesson here. They teach us that when our efforts and purposes seem to be baffled and come to naught, then we are to fall back, not on despair, but on the settled conviction that the lives of men are all in the hands of God.

Search as we will, we find nothing to rest upon, nothing that will endure the real trial, but faith in the eternal kingdom of God. The life of this world has its springs and manifestations in the things of this world. But the Christian’s life is meaningless unless it is separated from all this. And the Christian character, if it read not its “title clear to mansions in the skies,” has nothing distinctively to commend itself. Men do not grow unworldly, if their hopes are always bounded by earthly horizons. They never grow upward toward God in reaches of spiritual aspirations and enjoyment till they locate their chief good in that place where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God, and lay up their treasure where he bids us secure it, that is, in heaven, beyond the reach of moth and rust.

“But we seek one to come.” This expression about a future city, Paul addressed to the Hebrews. The Jews doubtless flattered themselves that they already had a continuing city; that Jerusalem would stand forever. And so it would have continued if they had kept the Sabbath, as the Lord commanded them. This promise he gave them by Jeremiah (Jer. 17:19–27); but within less than half a score of years from the date of this epistle to the Hebrews that city was overthrown. It disappeared absolutely, for a time, and, practically, for all time, from the face of the earth.

But Christians had learned to look for nothing permanent in a world like this; yet we are not left with our legitimate longing for the permanent and enduring unprovided for. This, it is true, rests now only on promises; but these promises can never fail. We have the privilege of looking forward to a city that is to come, a city that hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

Once in possession of that city, no foes will ever be able to take it from us. When once the kingdom of God is put into possession of the saints of the Most High, it is not to “be left to other people;” no decay will ever seize it, no floods or flames ever destroy it; and it will never fail us; for it will be the inheritance promised, which is “incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away.”

Are you seeking such a city as this? If we are seeking such a city, the manner of persons we try to be will show that we are not locating our hopes and seeking our desires in this present evil world. The claim that we are pilgrims and strangers in this world is but so much idle breath, unless we have fixed our affection upon, and are laying up our treasure in, that city for which nearly four thousand years ago the patriarch Abraham looked.

This city that is to come, the apostle says, “we seek.” What do we seek?—That which we do not have here, that is, a continuing city. The prominent idea is continuance. “Here have we no continuing city, but we seek” a continuing city to come. The word “seek” implies diligence, and aggressive action. How do we seek it?—Not by simply calling ourselves pilgrims and strangers here; but by living and acting as such. Pilgrims and strangers passing through an alien country do not enter largely into the spirit and enterprises of that country. They will discharge whatever obligations they owe to the land in which they are temporarily sojourning. They will obey the laws that do not conflict with their higher duties to God. They will pay tribute to whom tribute is due, and in their whole course of life will labor to promote good order and good morals, so as to be a blessing to every community where their lot may be cast. Meanwhile they will be seeking that better country, by studying its constitution, learning its laws, and identifying themselves, in mind and heart, with its spirit and principles, thus showing that that is the country to which they belong.

This promised city fulfills all conditions. It “hath foundations.” It does not rest upon the sand. It is built and made by the Great Architect of the universe itself; and if they of whom God owns himself as their God, must live forever, because God is their God, so this city must endure forever, because it is the city of God, his “holy city,” “the city of the Great King;” and he in whom is no darkness at all is the light thereof.

This city is now attracting by its charms those who have discernment to behold the glory of things unseen, and is thus sending forth its invitations. “The Spirit and the bride say, Come.” And more attractions are in store; for there the marriage feast is soon to be spread; and there the happy guests, they who are called to the marriage supper of the Lamb, will celebrate the joyful occasion. “Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.” The angel told John expressly to write that. But more blessed will it be to accept the invitation, and be there.

U. S.