Patriarchs and Their Families Look Toward a Far Cityby CBPepper
11:14Hebrews 11:14
For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.
Those who call themselves strangers and pilgrims on earth declare plainly that they seek a country beyond their present home, not the earthly place they left behind but a better country, that is a heavenly one, a city with foundations whose builder and maker is God. That plain declaration is made by words and by conduct, so actions and way of life show whether a person is truly seeking it. Seeking that country is seeing unseen things by faith, laying hold of invisible realities and living by them now, even dying in faith without receiving the promises yet having seen them afar off and embraced them. The country sought is a real home for the ransomed, the new earth freed from the curse, with peaceful habitations, living streams, the tree of life, and no more death or sorrow, even the many abiding places in the Father's house which Christ has gone to prepare. Therefore seeking it means setting affections on heaven rather than earthly wealth, coming out from the world to live separate and holy, and holding fast to God's promises and guidance for comfort and strength along the toilsome journey.
Meaning of Confession
Those who call themselves strangers and pilgrims on earth declare plainly that they seek a country beyond their present home. That confession points to desire for a better, heavenly country, with an inheritance and a city which God has prepared for them. The patriarchs and prophets made this confession, and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived by this faith. Their confession was supreme desire for the blessings of salvation, shown by soul-hunger for righteousness, by refusing to be charmed by the pleasures of this life, and by looking for a city that has foundations.
Declaring plainly is done by words and by conduct, so actions and way of life reveal whether a person is seeking that country. Those who openly live as strangers and pilgrims do not make earthly possessions or worldly plans their aim, do not treat this world as home, and do not devote heart and strength to gathering earthly wealth as though expecting to remain here long with no need of a better country. They place all they have at God's disposal to build His kingdom and live for His glory, let their faith shape work and conduct, honor God by pure and holy conversation proving they are born from above, with hearts flowing out in love and gratitude for the Son's wondrous love for sinners and for heaven's interest in salvation, alive and awake to honor, glorify and adore the High and Lofty One, and work earnestly for the salvation of others. Earthly treasures fixed upon by the heart will be scattered or consumed in the fires of the last days, and God can entrust with His truth to share with the world those whose conduct makes their faith plain.
The country sought is not the earthly country left behind, to which return was possible and to which they could have returned if they had kept it in mind, but a better country, that is a heavenly one. They did not seek return to the country from which they came out, but their faith looked toward the heavenly country rather than longing to return to the place they left. That better country is a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, which He hath prepared for them. Turning the mind from discouraging seen things to unseen things belongs to this hope, which was constantly in view of the faithful, came down to the disciples who described and foretold it in prophecy, and is set forth by Christ in promising many permanent abiding places in His Father's house and going to prepare a place, calling for use of probationary time day by day so as to be ready when judged according to opportunities and privileges.
Those who say such things died in faith without receiving the promises, having seen them afar off and being persuaded of them and embracing them. This is how the ancient worthies receive the promises by faith, and because they desire the heavenly country God is not ashamed to be called their God. Seeking the country is seeing things not seen by faith and laying hold of invisible things in a deeper religious experience with faith stripped of human elements. It is not merely seeing what will be realized when mortal puts on immortality, but realizing now the unseen powers that move and govern life, refusing to be citizens of this present world to secure the blessed hope of being citizens of the kingdom of heaven, cooperating with Jesus Christ, partaking of the divine nature, overcoming corruption in the world through lust, responding to the forces of the spiritual kingdom Christ sets up in the soul, having a conscious title to the inheritance with the saints in light after resurrection and with the living saints after translation, having life bound up with the life of Christ, traveling by faith with no certain abiding place here and trusting God at every step while looking toward the saints' inheritance and waiting to enter the prepared city.
Faithful Witnesses Remembered
Hebrews 11:14 belongs to the chapter's record of people whose faith made them examples for the Christian church and instructors giving guidance to workers for God. It is part of the call to go forward in faith while working and praying, showing that those who live as strangers and pilgrims plainly demonstrate they seek a country beyond this earth, a better, heavenly country desired by the faithful. Their hope in what they cannot yet see is itself faith, and faithfulness in seeking God guides those who work for Him, for that same faith of God's servants in sacred history can work in believers now, and God works through people of faith no less powerfully than of old. Their lives openly showed their trust in God and served as a light to others.
Those who declare plainly that they seek a country are part of the cloud of witnesses compassing believers about, who breasted the evils and difficulties in their way and in the name of the Lord braced themselves successfully against opposing forces of evil. They were sustained and strengthened and held by God's hand. Their obedience to Christ and loyalty to God made their faith visible and led others to glorify God, letting their light shine before people in darkness as conspicuous examples of fidelity. That example is reflected in those who give up worldly ambition, place the will under God, and serve out of love for Him in doing good and saving souls.
Abraham expresses this faith, for though God promised him a land and called him to leave his idolatrous countrymen with Canaan as an everlasting possession, he did not receive its possession during his lifetime but died trusting the promise and looking for a better, heavenly country. He had no possession in the earth, not so much as to set foot on, and though he possessed great substance which he used to God's glory and the good of fellow men, he did not look upon this world as his home. Neither he nor his son nor his son's son received the promised land, and when he desired a burial place for his dead he had to buy it of the Canaanites, so that his sole possession in the land of promise was the rock-hewn tomb in the cave of Machpelah bought for Sarah. Those who speak of seeking a country thereby make clear they are pilgrims looking for the city God builds, pointing to future immortal life and the purified earth made new as the promised home, so believers do not expect full reward in land, gold, or silver now but look for eternal glory.
Moses did this by faith when he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. He forsook Egypt without fearing the wrath of the king and endured as seeing Him who is invisible. He did not remain mindful of the country from which he came out so as to return to it, because he had respect unto the recompense of the reward and desired a better country, that is, an heavenly, for which God has prepared a city and is not ashamed to be called their God.
The same confession is seen in believers who leave houses, goods, and livelihood to become strangers in a strange land among people of different language and customs, forced by poverty into new and untried occupations to earn bread. Such seekers cheerfully accept the situation without idleness or repining, thank God for blessings still granted, and find joy in unmolested spiritual communion. Those who know they are pilgrims look little on earthly things and lift their eyes to heaven as their dearest country and quiet their spirits there.
It is also seen when those determined to serve God according to conscience make plain they are looking for another home because their own land has ceased to be habitable for them. When civil power demands conformity and allows no dissent, and believers are hunted, persecuted, and imprisoned with no promise of better days, they act on that conviction by leaving to seek refuge elsewhere. They do so even at the cost of difficulties, losses and imprisonment, thwarted purposes and betrayal into enemies' hands, holding on with steadfast perseverance until they find shelter.
The Country Promised
The inheritance the verse calls a country is a real home for the ransomed, which is the new earth and the earth freed from the curse, lovelier than the land of promise, even the holy city and the earth made new as eternal home. Longing for that heavenly country draws hearts from earthly things toward God and heaven, and those who speak and live as pilgrims make plain they seek that better country as their true home. It is the fulfillment of a more glorious deliverance than the brightest hopes had pictured, where there is no sin and death cannot enter and where the nations of the saved find their eternal home when earthly wanderings are forever past.
There God's people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home on peaceful plains beside living streams, where the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. There are ever-flowing streams clear as crystal, and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon paths prepared for the ransomed, while widespread plains swell into hills of beauty and the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. There stands the tree of life yielding its fruit every month with leaves for the service and healing of the nations. That homeland is the bright, holy, goodly land where life's pure river runs, where pilgrims have a dwelling and are homeless no more, with green fields that never know blight, wild deserts blooming fair, roses of Sharon, green bowers with sweet-singing birds joining angels' harpings, palms and robes and crowns, a silvery band in white, a city fair with pearly gates all radiant with light, angels and saints with harps of gold singing, and the mount with the fruitful tree of life. The King of that country is fair, the joy and light of the place, whom pilgrims will behold in His beauty and in whose smiling face they will bask, and they will be there in a little while to join the pure and the blest, receive palm, robe and crown, and forever be at rest.
There they dwell in peaceful habitation and sure dwellings and quiet resting places, with walls called Salvation and gates Praise, building houses and inhabiting them and planting vineyards and eating their fruit without another taking them. While the wilderness and desert rejoice and blossom as the rose, the thorn is replaced by the fir and the brier by the myrtle, and wolf dwells with lamb and leopard with kid led by a little child without hurt or destruction in the holy mountain. There pain cannot exist, with no more death nor sorrow nor crying nor tears nor funeral trains nor badges of mourning, and the inhabitant does not say I am sick because iniquity is forgiven.
The hope is the heavenly place of many permanent abiding places in the Father's house which Christ has gone to prepare, including mansions and the holy city built by God, whose builder and maker is God. Earth is not home because its earthly dwellings will be shaken down and destroyed, while Christ has prepared heavenly mansions for the faithful where they will be with Him and receive eternal life. This hope points to Christ's coming, when He will raise the righteous dead and take the righteous living to heaven to that city which hath foundations.
Because they desire that country, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them surpassing any earthly beauty and fulfilling what eye has not seen nor ear heard. He has built a city for them and will gather such strangers and pilgrims to Himself there, and He is not ashamed to call them brethren. Only a loyal people who keep God's law as Christ kept His Father's commandments will be fitted for the society of heavenly angels in that city, for rebellion originated in heaven and will not be found there again. Those who inquire after the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment, to seek mercy, and to walk humbly with God will be called to come up higher into that city. The journey toward it is incompatible with cherishing malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking, which are fruits God abhors, and those who reveal them will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
That common pilgrimage makes all who believe one brotherhood bound for a better country, even a heavenly one, in which there is no distinction between rich and poor, with all prejudice melted away and heart bound to heart to the great Center, Christ. There in the heavenly country their songs will catch the inspiring theme, and thanksgiving and praise will go up to God. Holy song is a way to commune with God on earth while keeping that eternal home in view, as Christ turns minds away from earthly exile toward that future home. The faithful through the centuries are pilgrims and strangers seeking that better country, which is the eternal world, home with Christ, with promise of an inheritance in the heavenly Canaan where they will be satisfied and share the promised rest. They are given courage by the promise of His coming, and though more than eighteen hundred years have passed without its fulfillment, the word remains sure and God will fulfill it in His own time. Now the time of tarrying is almost ended, all heaven is preparing for the day of deliverance, they are almost home and homeward bound, rapidly nearing the time when Christ will come to gather His redeemed to Himself.
Pilgrim Life Required
To seek that country is to set affection on heaven rather than on earthly wealth, for earthly treasures fixed upon by the heart will be scattered or consumed in the fires of the last days. Those who claim to believe the end is near yet devote heart and all strength to gathering earthly wealth deny that faith by acting as though they expect to remain here long and have no need of a better country. Their choices make allegiance plain, for pursuing wealth, buying extensively, and seeking to become rich or gain honor declares that home and treasure are on earth, while living without attachment to costly possessions, doing good for souls, living out faith, and doing self-denying good works gives visible evidence of hope in Christ's return and the promised change of the body. The true home is not this world but the heavenly country and immortal inheritance promised to Abraham, and life should match that profession as a witness that the world is not home.
That pilgrim profession requires self-denial and economy, holding earthly houses as temporary rented dwellings and refusing needless spending on furniture, comforts, display, pride, and luxury. Money beyond positive necessities is the Lord's for His glory, to be brought as a thank-offering in covenant by sacrifice, contributed cheerfully toward the support of the ministry, used to help the destitute, build churches, and save souls, because the time for saving souls is short. Houses of worship also should accord with that passing-through faith, plain tabernacles neat and thoroughly well built, tasteful and appropriate yet without needless adornment, moved out by faith and dedicated to God free from debt, since spending His money on display and paying interest on debt is great loss. Faith sees the heavenly Canaan ahead, moves daily toward it, and prepares a person to bear duty, self-denial, and the cross, for half-hearted service rooted in the world is no preparation for eternity.
Seeking a homeland means coming out from the world and being separate, standing as God's peculiar people in the world but not of it. Those who describe themselves as pilgrims and strangers make clear they seek a country beyond this world, even the better heavenly country and the city founded by God. Their identity, principles, influence, and citizenship are not to be shaped by the world but by heaven, molded and fashioned by God to bear Christ's superscription upon the character and clothed in His righteousness, and one person so consecrated can do much. That distinct, unselfish influence, keeping heaven in view and separating principles from the world's, can lead others toward the heavenly country.
Those who profess to be pilgrims and strangers should speak about the unseen country, letting faith shape work and conduct so influence directs others toward the heavenly Canaan and not back toward Egypt and worldly life. Filling conversation with earthly matters while scarcely mentioning that unseen country fails to honor God.
Remembering this identity binds those united with the Lord in the covenant of service to cooperate with Him in soul-saving, serving Christ earnestly by working for the salvation and conversion of others. The ancient worthies received the promises by faith, seeing them afar off, being persuaded of them, and embracing them, not seeking to return to the country from which they came but desiring a better country, that is a heavenly one, for which God has prepared a city. That hope is an example and instruction to workers for God, calling them to go forward in faith while working and praying, living with earnest devotion until heaviness is exchanged for the wedding garment at the coronation of the King. Those living in the last days are to share this same faith in greatly increased measure, holding the promises doubly dear, knowing and practicing the truth, and watching and waiting and praying for the Lord's appearing with gratitude and trust.
Seeking a heavenly country means not being bound to any earthly place and being ready to leave when God calls, trusting Him to lead elsewhere and obeying His direction even when inconvenient and inconsistent with human judgment. When the Lord tells His workers to move they are to obey, however inconvenient it may seem, including moving publishing work carried on in one place to be carried on for the present elsewhere, and moving again if after a time He says to move.
That seeking is the seeing of things not seen by faith, not merely seeing what will be realized when mortal puts on immortality, but realizing now the unseen powers that move and govern life. It means refusing to be citizens of this present world to secure the blessed hope of being citizens of the kingdom of heaven, cooperating with Jesus Christ, partaking of the divine nature, overcoming the corruption in the world through lust, responding to the forces of the spiritual kingdom Christ sets up in the soul, and having a conscious title to the inheritance with the saints in light after resurrection and with the living saints after translation, with life bound up with the life of Christ. The faithful patriarchs and prophets plainly declared they sought a better country, even a heavenly one, which is a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God, with no desire to return to former worldly associations, and that great hope constantly in view came down to the disciples who described and foretold it in prophecy, while Christ set forth the same attraction in promising many permanent abiding places in His Father's house and going to prepare a place. The lesson is to use probationary time day by day so as to be ready when judged according to opportunities and privileges, to prepare earnestly to meet the Lord, live faithfully, keep the mind from settling on temporary possessions, cultivate the soul, put on Christ's righteousness, put truth into practice in a sanctified life, overcome sin, and do God's will with diligence while looking beyond this life to the eternal reward and waiting to see the King. This visible sojourner life, refusing to spend His treasure lavishly to glorify self and showing in life and character the sanctification of the gospel and faith in Christ's soon coming in power and great glory, with fear and trembling for what shall come, settles whether they are solid Christians or merely professors, especially when terrible calamity shows the stroke of an offended God.
The journey toward the heavenly country, the paradise of God, brings disappointments, difficulties, and conflict with Satan, requiring a heart to sympathize with its inhabitants, and toil, patience, self-sacrifice, reproach, poverty, hard work, and enduring the contradiction of sinners in following the portion of Christ. Heaven's path is too narrow for rank and riches to ride in state and for ambition, and too steep and rugged for carriages of ease to climb, so believers are to look to Jesus for help, fight the good fight of faith, endure hardship as soldiers of Christ, and let the wounds and scars of the struggle stand as trophies of victory. Those who expect to inherit immortality, having lost homes through opposition and persecution while seeking that better country which Christ sacrificed Himself to provide, should therefore open their homes to homeless and needy people, including strangers, rather than turn them away. Keeping that hope calls them to look beyond the world's sin and distress to Jesus while living with love rather than a sour, censorious spirit.
Hope That Sustains Journey
Those who declare they seek a country are pilgrims and strangers in a dark world seeking a better country, even a heavenly one, and they have not been left without help to lighten every burden. Blessings are scattered all along their path to brighten the journey and draw their hearts out to love and praise, the borders of the way are strewn with the fair fragrant flowers of precious promises, and the well of salvation is given from which their hearts may be refreshed. From this they can sing the songs of Zion, cheer their own hearts and the hearts of others, have hope strengthened, and have darkness turned to light.
The Bible's instructions guide them on that journey toward the better, heavenly country, and those directions must be studied carefully so they do not go astray. They are guided by the true light toward the city of God. Their feet are guided into that city by the star of holiness and heavenly brightness, the true light now shining that enters the soul opened heavenward. Artificial lights claiming to come from heaven cannot give this guidance, and if heaven's bright beams are allowed to be eclipsed, false lights will take the place of the true and for a time deceive many souls on the way.
Those who live as pilgrims and strangers in this world have no certain abiding place here and travel by faith, trusting God at every step while seeking the better country whose builder and maker is God. Heaven is their true home, and they can trust God while they wait to reach it. Keeping in view the promised home of Christ and the joy ahead comforts and gladdens them amid the cares of earthly life as they look toward the city God has prepared. They look little on earthly things and lift their eyes to heaven as their dearest country and quiet their spirits there, finding joy in unmolested spiritual communion even when strangers in a strange land among people of different language and customs, having left houses, goods, and livelihood and being forced by poverty into new and untried occupations to earn bread. Such seekers cheerfully accept the situation without idleness or repining and thank God for blessings still granted.
The patriarchs and prophets by confessing they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth declared plainly that they sought that better, heavenly country, with an inheritance and a city which God has prepared for them, dying in faith without receiving the promises, having seen them afar off and embraced them, and not seeking return to the country from which they came out. True education trains children and youth for that country, both for the life that now is and with reference to that which is to come. Even as weary pilgrims on a journey, those who seek a country find rest along the way when given a good home.
Those who call themselves strangers and pilgrims on earth declare plainly that they seek a country beyond their present home, not the earthly place they left behind but a better country, that is a heavenly one, a city with foundations whose builder and maker is God. That plain declaration is made by words and by conduct, so actions and way of life show whether a person is truly seeking it. Seeking that country is seeing unseen things by faith, laying hold of invisible realities and living by them now, even dying in faith without receiving the promises yet having seen them afar off and embraced them. The country sought is a real home for the ransomed, the new earth freed from the curse, with peaceful habitations, living streams, the tree of life, and no more death or sorrow, even the many abiding places in the Father's house which Christ has gone to prepare. Therefore seeking it means setting affections on heaven rather than earthly wealth, coming out from the world to live separate and holy, and holding fast to God's promises and guidance for comfort and strength along the toilsome journey.
Meaning of Confession
Those who call themselves strangers and pilgrims on earth declare plainly that they seek a country beyond their present home. That confession points to desire for a better, heavenly country, with an inheritance and a city which God has prepared for them. The patriarchs and prophets made this confession, and Abraham, Isaac and Jacob lived by this faith. Their confession was supreme desire for the blessings of salvation, shown by soul-hunger for righteousness, by refusing to be charmed by the pleasures of this life, and by looking for a city that has foundations.
Declaring plainly is done by words and by conduct, so actions and way of life reveal whether a person is seeking that country. Those who openly live as strangers and pilgrims do not make earthly possessions or worldly plans their aim, do not treat this world as home, and do not devote heart and strength to gathering earthly wealth as though expecting to remain here long with no need of a better country. They place all they have at God's disposal to build His kingdom and live for His glory, let their faith shape work and conduct, honor God by pure and holy conversation proving they are born from above, with hearts flowing out in love and gratitude for the Son's wondrous love for sinners and for heaven's interest in salvation, alive and awake to honor, glorify and adore the High and Lofty One, and work earnestly for the salvation of others. Earthly treasures fixed upon by the heart will be scattered or consumed in the fires of the last days, and God can entrust with His truth to share with the world those whose conduct makes their faith plain.
The country sought is not the earthly country left behind, to which return was possible and to which they could have returned if they had kept it in mind, but a better country, that is a heavenly one. They did not seek return to the country from which they came out, but their faith looked toward the heavenly country rather than longing to return to the place they left. That better country is a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God, which He hath prepared for them. Turning the mind from discouraging seen things to unseen things belongs to this hope, which was constantly in view of the faithful, came down to the disciples who described and foretold it in prophecy, and is set forth by Christ in promising many permanent abiding places in His Father's house and going to prepare a place, calling for use of probationary time day by day so as to be ready when judged according to opportunities and privileges.
Those who say such things died in faith without receiving the promises, having seen them afar off and being persuaded of them and embracing them. This is how the ancient worthies receive the promises by faith, and because they desire the heavenly country God is not ashamed to be called their God. Seeking the country is seeing things not seen by faith and laying hold of invisible things in a deeper religious experience with faith stripped of human elements. It is not merely seeing what will be realized when mortal puts on immortality, but realizing now the unseen powers that move and govern life, refusing to be citizens of this present world to secure the blessed hope of being citizens of the kingdom of heaven, cooperating with Jesus Christ, partaking of the divine nature, overcoming corruption in the world through lust, responding to the forces of the spiritual kingdom Christ sets up in the soul, having a conscious title to the inheritance with the saints in light after resurrection and with the living saints after translation, having life bound up with the life of Christ, traveling by faith with no certain abiding place here and trusting God at every step while looking toward the saints' inheritance and waiting to enter the prepared city.
Faithful Witnesses Remembered
Hebrews 11:14 belongs to the chapter's record of people whose faith made them examples for the Christian church and instructors giving guidance to workers for God. It is part of the call to go forward in faith while working and praying, showing that those who live as strangers and pilgrims plainly demonstrate they seek a country beyond this earth, a better, heavenly country desired by the faithful. Their hope in what they cannot yet see is itself faith, and faithfulness in seeking God guides those who work for Him, for that same faith of God's servants in sacred history can work in believers now, and God works through people of faith no less powerfully than of old. Their lives openly showed their trust in God and served as a light to others.
Those who declare plainly that they seek a country are part of the cloud of witnesses compassing believers about, who breasted the evils and difficulties in their way and in the name of the Lord braced themselves successfully against opposing forces of evil. They were sustained and strengthened and held by God's hand. Their obedience to Christ and loyalty to God made their faith visible and led others to glorify God, letting their light shine before people in darkness as conspicuous examples of fidelity. That example is reflected in those who give up worldly ambition, place the will under God, and serve out of love for Him in doing good and saving souls.
Abraham expresses this faith, for though God promised him a land and called him to leave his idolatrous countrymen with Canaan as an everlasting possession, he did not receive its possession during his lifetime but died trusting the promise and looking for a better, heavenly country. He had no possession in the earth, not so much as to set foot on, and though he possessed great substance which he used to God's glory and the good of fellow men, he did not look upon this world as his home. Neither he nor his son nor his son's son received the promised land, and when he desired a burial place for his dead he had to buy it of the Canaanites, so that his sole possession in the land of promise was the rock-hewn tomb in the cave of Machpelah bought for Sarah. Those who speak of seeking a country thereby make clear they are pilgrims looking for the city God builds, pointing to future immortal life and the purified earth made new as the promised home, so believers do not expect full reward in land, gold, or silver now but look for eternal glory.
Moses did this by faith when he refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing to suffer affliction with the people of God rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season, esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt. He forsook Egypt without fearing the wrath of the king and endured as seeing Him who is invisible. He did not remain mindful of the country from which he came out so as to return to it, because he had respect unto the recompense of the reward and desired a better country, that is, an heavenly, for which God has prepared a city and is not ashamed to be called their God.
The same confession is seen in believers who leave houses, goods, and livelihood to become strangers in a strange land among people of different language and customs, forced by poverty into new and untried occupations to earn bread. Such seekers cheerfully accept the situation without idleness or repining, thank God for blessings still granted, and find joy in unmolested spiritual communion. Those who know they are pilgrims look little on earthly things and lift their eyes to heaven as their dearest country and quiet their spirits there.
It is also seen when those determined to serve God according to conscience make plain they are looking for another home because their own land has ceased to be habitable for them. When civil power demands conformity and allows no dissent, and believers are hunted, persecuted, and imprisoned with no promise of better days, they act on that conviction by leaving to seek refuge elsewhere. They do so even at the cost of difficulties, losses and imprisonment, thwarted purposes and betrayal into enemies' hands, holding on with steadfast perseverance until they find shelter.
The Country Promised
The inheritance the verse calls a country is a real home for the ransomed, which is the new earth and the earth freed from the curse, lovelier than the land of promise, even the holy city and the earth made new as eternal home. Longing for that heavenly country draws hearts from earthly things toward God and heaven, and those who speak and live as pilgrims make plain they seek that better country as their true home. It is the fulfillment of a more glorious deliverance than the brightest hopes had pictured, where there is no sin and death cannot enter and where the nations of the saved find their eternal home when earthly wanderings are forever past.
There God's people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home on peaceful plains beside living streams, where the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. There are ever-flowing streams clear as crystal, and beside them waving trees cast their shadows upon paths prepared for the ransomed, while widespread plains swell into hills of beauty and the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. There stands the tree of life yielding its fruit every month with leaves for the service and healing of the nations. That homeland is the bright, holy, goodly land where life's pure river runs, where pilgrims have a dwelling and are homeless no more, with green fields that never know blight, wild deserts blooming fair, roses of Sharon, green bowers with sweet-singing birds joining angels' harpings, palms and robes and crowns, a silvery band in white, a city fair with pearly gates all radiant with light, angels and saints with harps of gold singing, and the mount with the fruitful tree of life. The King of that country is fair, the joy and light of the place, whom pilgrims will behold in His beauty and in whose smiling face they will bask, and they will be there in a little while to join the pure and the blest, receive palm, robe and crown, and forever be at rest.
There they dwell in peaceful habitation and sure dwellings and quiet resting places, with walls called Salvation and gates Praise, building houses and inhabiting them and planting vineyards and eating their fruit without another taking them. While the wilderness and desert rejoice and blossom as the rose, the thorn is replaced by the fir and the brier by the myrtle, and wolf dwells with lamb and leopard with kid led by a little child without hurt or destruction in the holy mountain. There pain cannot exist, with no more death nor sorrow nor crying nor tears nor funeral trains nor badges of mourning, and the inhabitant does not say I am sick because iniquity is forgiven.
The hope is the heavenly place of many permanent abiding places in the Father's house which Christ has gone to prepare, including mansions and the holy city built by God, whose builder and maker is God. Earth is not home because its earthly dwellings will be shaken down and destroyed, while Christ has prepared heavenly mansions for the faithful where they will be with Him and receive eternal life. This hope points to Christ's coming, when He will raise the righteous dead and take the righteous living to heaven to that city which hath foundations.
Because they desire that country, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them surpassing any earthly beauty and fulfilling what eye has not seen nor ear heard. He has built a city for them and will gather such strangers and pilgrims to Himself there, and He is not ashamed to call them brethren. Only a loyal people who keep God's law as Christ kept His Father's commandments will be fitted for the society of heavenly angels in that city, for rebellion originated in heaven and will not be found there again. Those who inquire after the way of the Lord to do justice and judgment, to seek mercy, and to walk humbly with God will be called to come up higher into that city. The journey toward it is incompatible with cherishing malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, and evil speaking, which are fruits God abhors, and those who reveal them will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
That common pilgrimage makes all who believe one brotherhood bound for a better country, even a heavenly one, in which there is no distinction between rich and poor, with all prejudice melted away and heart bound to heart to the great Center, Christ. There in the heavenly country their songs will catch the inspiring theme, and thanksgiving and praise will go up to God. Holy song is a way to commune with God on earth while keeping that eternal home in view, as Christ turns minds away from earthly exile toward that future home. The faithful through the centuries are pilgrims and strangers seeking that better country, which is the eternal world, home with Christ, with promise of an inheritance in the heavenly Canaan where they will be satisfied and share the promised rest. They are given courage by the promise of His coming, and though more than eighteen hundred years have passed without its fulfillment, the word remains sure and God will fulfill it in His own time. Now the time of tarrying is almost ended, all heaven is preparing for the day of deliverance, they are almost home and homeward bound, rapidly nearing the time when Christ will come to gather His redeemed to Himself.
Pilgrim Life Required
To seek that country is to set affection on heaven rather than on earthly wealth, for earthly treasures fixed upon by the heart will be scattered or consumed in the fires of the last days. Those who claim to believe the end is near yet devote heart and all strength to gathering earthly wealth deny that faith by acting as though they expect to remain here long and have no need of a better country. Their choices make allegiance plain, for pursuing wealth, buying extensively, and seeking to become rich or gain honor declares that home and treasure are on earth, while living without attachment to costly possessions, doing good for souls, living out faith, and doing self-denying good works gives visible evidence of hope in Christ's return and the promised change of the body. The true home is not this world but the heavenly country and immortal inheritance promised to Abraham, and life should match that profession as a witness that the world is not home.
That pilgrim profession requires self-denial and economy, holding earthly houses as temporary rented dwellings and refusing needless spending on furniture, comforts, display, pride, and luxury. Money beyond positive necessities is the Lord's for His glory, to be brought as a thank-offering in covenant by sacrifice, contributed cheerfully toward the support of the ministry, used to help the destitute, build churches, and save souls, because the time for saving souls is short. Houses of worship also should accord with that passing-through faith, plain tabernacles neat and thoroughly well built, tasteful and appropriate yet without needless adornment, moved out by faith and dedicated to God free from debt, since spending His money on display and paying interest on debt is great loss. Faith sees the heavenly Canaan ahead, moves daily toward it, and prepares a person to bear duty, self-denial, and the cross, for half-hearted service rooted in the world is no preparation for eternity.
Seeking a homeland means coming out from the world and being separate, standing as God's peculiar people in the world but not of it. Those who describe themselves as pilgrims and strangers make clear they seek a country beyond this world, even the better heavenly country and the city founded by God. Their identity, principles, influence, and citizenship are not to be shaped by the world but by heaven, molded and fashioned by God to bear Christ's superscription upon the character and clothed in His righteousness, and one person so consecrated can do much. That distinct, unselfish influence, keeping heaven in view and separating principles from the world's, can lead others toward the heavenly country.
Those who profess to be pilgrims and strangers should speak about the unseen country, letting faith shape work and conduct so influence directs others toward the heavenly Canaan and not back toward Egypt and worldly life. Filling conversation with earthly matters while scarcely mentioning that unseen country fails to honor God.
Remembering this identity binds those united with the Lord in the covenant of service to cooperate with Him in soul-saving, serving Christ earnestly by working for the salvation and conversion of others. The ancient worthies received the promises by faith, seeing them afar off, being persuaded of them, and embracing them, not seeking to return to the country from which they came but desiring a better country, that is a heavenly one, for which God has prepared a city. That hope is an example and instruction to workers for God, calling them to go forward in faith while working and praying, living with earnest devotion until heaviness is exchanged for the wedding garment at the coronation of the King. Those living in the last days are to share this same faith in greatly increased measure, holding the promises doubly dear, knowing and practicing the truth, and watching and waiting and praying for the Lord's appearing with gratitude and trust.
Seeking a heavenly country means not being bound to any earthly place and being ready to leave when God calls, trusting Him to lead elsewhere and obeying His direction even when inconvenient and inconsistent with human judgment. When the Lord tells His workers to move they are to obey, however inconvenient it may seem, including moving publishing work carried on in one place to be carried on for the present elsewhere, and moving again if after a time He says to move.
That seeking is the seeing of things not seen by faith, not merely seeing what will be realized when mortal puts on immortality, but realizing now the unseen powers that move and govern life. It means refusing to be citizens of this present world to secure the blessed hope of being citizens of the kingdom of heaven, cooperating with Jesus Christ, partaking of the divine nature, overcoming the corruption in the world through lust, responding to the forces of the spiritual kingdom Christ sets up in the soul, and having a conscious title to the inheritance with the saints in light after resurrection and with the living saints after translation, with life bound up with the life of Christ. The faithful patriarchs and prophets plainly declared they sought a better country, even a heavenly one, which is a city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God, with no desire to return to former worldly associations, and that great hope constantly in view came down to the disciples who described and foretold it in prophecy, while Christ set forth the same attraction in promising many permanent abiding places in His Father's house and going to prepare a place. The lesson is to use probationary time day by day so as to be ready when judged according to opportunities and privileges, to prepare earnestly to meet the Lord, live faithfully, keep the mind from settling on temporary possessions, cultivate the soul, put on Christ's righteousness, put truth into practice in a sanctified life, overcome sin, and do God's will with diligence while looking beyond this life to the eternal reward and waiting to see the King. This visible sojourner life, refusing to spend His treasure lavishly to glorify self and showing in life and character the sanctification of the gospel and faith in Christ's soon coming in power and great glory, with fear and trembling for what shall come, settles whether they are solid Christians or merely professors, especially when terrible calamity shows the stroke of an offended God.
The journey toward the heavenly country, the paradise of God, brings disappointments, difficulties, and conflict with Satan, requiring a heart to sympathize with its inhabitants, and toil, patience, self-sacrifice, reproach, poverty, hard work, and enduring the contradiction of sinners in following the portion of Christ. Heaven's path is too narrow for rank and riches to ride in state and for ambition, and too steep and rugged for carriages of ease to climb, so believers are to look to Jesus for help, fight the good fight of faith, endure hardship as soldiers of Christ, and let the wounds and scars of the struggle stand as trophies of victory. Those who expect to inherit immortality, having lost homes through opposition and persecution while seeking that better country which Christ sacrificed Himself to provide, should therefore open their homes to homeless and needy people, including strangers, rather than turn them away. Keeping that hope calls them to look beyond the world's sin and distress to Jesus while living with love rather than a sour, censorious spirit.
Hope That Sustains Journey
Those who declare they seek a country are pilgrims and strangers in a dark world seeking a better country, even a heavenly one, and they have not been left without help to lighten every burden. Blessings are scattered all along their path to brighten the journey and draw their hearts out to love and praise, the borders of the way are strewn with the fair fragrant flowers of precious promises, and the well of salvation is given from which their hearts may be refreshed. From this they can sing the songs of Zion, cheer their own hearts and the hearts of others, have hope strengthened, and have darkness turned to light.
The Bible's instructions guide them on that journey toward the better, heavenly country, and those directions must be studied carefully so they do not go astray. They are guided by the true light toward the city of God. Their feet are guided into that city by the star of holiness and heavenly brightness, the true light now shining that enters the soul opened heavenward. Artificial lights claiming to come from heaven cannot give this guidance, and if heaven's bright beams are allowed to be eclipsed, false lights will take the place of the true and for a time deceive many souls on the way.
Those who live as pilgrims and strangers in this world have no certain abiding place here and travel by faith, trusting God at every step while seeking the better country whose builder and maker is God. Heaven is their true home, and they can trust God while they wait to reach it. Keeping in view the promised home of Christ and the joy ahead comforts and gladdens them amid the cares of earthly life as they look toward the city God has prepared. They look little on earthly things and lift their eyes to heaven as their dearest country and quiet their spirits there, finding joy in unmolested spiritual communion even when strangers in a strange land among people of different language and customs, having left houses, goods, and livelihood and being forced by poverty into new and untried occupations to earn bread. Such seekers cheerfully accept the situation without idleness or repining and thank God for blessings still granted.
The patriarchs and prophets by confessing they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth declared plainly that they sought that better, heavenly country, with an inheritance and a city which God has prepared for them, dying in faith without receiving the promises, having seen them afar off and embraced them, and not seeking return to the country from which they came out. True education trains children and youth for that country, both for the life that now is and with reference to that which is to come. Even as weary pilgrims on a journey, those who seek a country find rest along the way when given a good home.