Hebrews 11:16, commentary and pictures

Those who died in faith confessed they were strangers and pilgrims on earth, declared plainly they sought a country with no desire to return to the one they left, and desired a better country that is heavenly, for which God is not ashamed to be called their God because He has prepared a city for them.
That better country is a real heavenly homeland and eternal home, not in this world, which is the earth made new as restored Eden freed from the curse where sin and death cannot enter.
It is a lasting city with foundations whose builder and maker is God, with mansions and dwelling places in the Father's house, lighted by God's glory with the Lamb as its light, where God's people find peaceable habitations with no tears, sorrow, pain, sickness or death.
God gladly owns them as His people and is not ashamed to call them brethren because they honor Him by faith shown in works, character and conduct, following heaven's principles and hungering for righteousness.
Believers are therefore pilgrims and sojourners with no lasting home here, journeying toward that land by making that hope plain in works and character, refusing to make earthly possessions and ambitions the aim, and preparing through a lifetime of faithful character building and service in saving others.

Faith Chapter Setting

Hebrews 11:16 belongs to the record of those who lived by faith, held up as examples for Christians to follow. It stands among the witnesses that compass present believers, who breasted the evils and difficulties in their way and in the Lord's name braced themselves successfully against opposing forces of evil, sustained and strengthened and held by God's hand. Their faithfulness made them examples before the world so that their light could reach those in darkness, showing that from age to age the heroes of faith are marked by fidelity to God and brought conspicuously before the world. The same faith that worked in God's servants of old can work in believers now, for faith is continued trust through trials and mysterious providences that lightens burdens, strengthens the believer, prepares for service, and lets God work through faithful hearts as channels of His power. Their example calls believers to lay aside every weight of evil habits and practices formed by following natural dispositions and to run with patience the race set before them.

It describes those who died in faith without receiving the promises, having seen them afar off, been persuaded of them, and embraced them. Abraham, Isaac and Jacob so died, and with them the patriarchs and prophets, looking ahead to a heavenly country rather than longing to return to their former home. Their life as strangers and pilgrims expressed faith in what they had not yet seen, and the promises received by faith remain a source of hope and encouragement for those who watch and wait for the Lord's appearing. Those who supremely desire the blessings of salvation hunger for righteousness, are not charmed by the pleasures of this life, and handle the things of this world without becoming worldly by following heaven's principles in all they do. Moses is among them, and the verse calls for the same living by faith now, with faith stripped of human elements to lay hold on invisible things in a deeper religious experience.

By confessing they were strangers and pilgrims on earth they declared plainly that they sought a country. They had no wish to go back to former worldly ties or to the country they came out of and left behind, but desired a better, heavenly country. Those who share this desire live as travelers and outsiders on earth, and because they honor God by faith shown through works, God is not ashamed to be called their God and has prepared a city for them. The constant hope of the patriarchs and prophets was a lasting founded city made by God, a hope handed down to the disciples who described and foretold a heavenly homeland, with permanent dwelling places in the Father's house held out by Christ who goes to get them ready. The present probationary life is the time to get ready to relocate there, using every moment well because judgment measures faithfulness to given opportunities and privileges.

Better Heavenly Country

The better country desired is a heavenly inheritance, homeland and real home, not in this world and not to be spiritualized away into something non-material. It is the country patriarchs and prophets looked for while confessing they were strangers and pilgrims on earth seeking a homeland, with no lasting home here and hope directed toward eternal life and the home prepared for them. Children and youth are to be trained both for the life that now is and with reference to the life to come, to fit them for inheritance in that heavenly country. Its glory is beyond description and beyond what human language can describe, known fully only when seen, yet it includes a prepared city and mansions. God's people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find there a permanent home on peaceful plains beside living streams.

There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters, with the tree of life yielding its fruit every month and its leaves for the service of the nations. Ever-flowing streams clear as crystal flow beside waving trees that cast their shadows upon paths prepared for the ransomed, and wide-spreading plains swell into hills of beauty where the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. On those peaceful plains beside those living streams they dwell in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting-places, where violence is no more heard in the land nor wasting nor destruction within the borders, but walls are called Salvation and gates Praise. There they build houses and inhabit them and plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them, and none builds for another to inhabit or plants for another to eat, but the elect long enjoy the work of their hands. There the wilderness and solitary place are glad and the desert rejoices and blossoms as the rose, the wolf dwells with the lamb and the leopard lies down with the kid and a little child leads them, and they shall not hurt nor destroy in all the holy mountain. Pain cannot exist in its atmosphere, with no tears, no funeral trains, no badges of mourning, no more death neither sorrow nor crying for the former things are passed away, and the inhabitant shall not say I am sick because the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.

That home is the earth made new, where they will spend eternity free from earthly suffering and heartache, the restored Eden and purified earth freed from the curse as the hope of immortal life. Abraham proves the promise is not in this world, for though called to leave his idolatrous countrymen with the promise of Canaan as an everlasting possession, and though possessing great substance which he used to the glory of God and the good of his fellow men, he did not look upon this world as his home and had no possession in the earth, not so much as to set his foot on. Neither he nor his son nor his son's son received it in their lifetime, and when he desired a burial place for his dead he had to buy it of the Canaanites, his sole possession in the land of promise being that rock-hewn tomb in the cave of Machpelah bought for Sarah. Like him believers are pilgrims and strangers looking forward to an eternal reward rather than expecting their full reward in earthly land, wealth, possessions, gold or silver here. The better heavenly country desired is that earth freed from the curse, lovelier than the land of promise, where there is no sin and death cannot enter and the nations of the saved find their eternal home, the fulfillment of a more glorious deliverance than the brightest hopes have pictured, when earthly wanderings are forever past and the Israel of God have at last entered the goodly land, seen with joy unutterable. Even the beauty of flowers recalls Eden and directs the mind to that promised blessed heavenly country soon to be entered.

It is a lasting founded city with foundations, built by God as its builder and maker, including mansions and permanent dwelling places in the Father's house that Christ goes to get ready. That constant hope of the patriarchs and prophets was handed down to the disciples who described and foretold a heavenly homeland, and those who are Abraham's children keep seeking the city Abraham looked for. Those who share this desire live as travelers and outsiders on earth with no wish to go back to former worldly ties and no desire to return to former worldly life, setting their minds on unseen things rather than common, discouraging things that are seen. The same hope that gladdened Abraham still makes every soul stand by faith, happy in hope, discerning by faith the city as the eternal weight of glory to be given to every overcomer. The present probationary life is the time to get ready to relocate there, using every moment well because judgment measures faithfulness to given opportunities and privileges.

That heavenly country has laws reflecting God's character that must govern all who enter it, and those who long for God seek to understand the laws He has impressed upon creation. The better, heavenly country Christ came from has laws that must be obeyed, and Christ obeyed those laws and left an example for every living person to copy, giving His life to make it possible in humanity to meet the conditions that give entrance into the city God has built for all who will be obedient and of which He is builder and maker. Entrance requires obedience to the law of God as Christ obeyed, being fitted for the society of heavenly angels, where rebellion that once began in heaven will never be found again. Those who seek the way of the Lord by doing justice and judgment, seeking mercy, and walking humbly with God will be gathered as strangers and pilgrims into that city for a loyal obedient people, and will hear His invitation to come up higher. The Word of God opens a sure path for traveling safely toward it, Scripture teaches the preparation needed to enter God's kingdom, and the promise calls believers journeying toward that destination God has prepared to study and follow God's instructions faithfully on the journey.

City God Prepared

The city God has prepared is lighted by the glory of God with the Lamb as its light, and the saved nations walk in its light. Its gates are never shut for there is no night there, and nothing defiling or false enters but only those written in the Lamb's book of life. It is a city of golden streets and pearly gates with foundations of precious stones.

There the heavenly Shepherd leads His flock to fountains of living waters. The tree of life yields its fruit every month and its leaves are for the service and healing of the nations. Ever-flowing streams clear as crystal run beside waving trees that cast their shadows upon the paths prepared for the ransomed. Widespread plains swell into hills of beauty where the mountains of God rear their lofty summits. There pilgrims will no longer be homeless or weary but will dwell in a fair land where life's river runs, and will see the King and rest forever with the pure and blessed.

On those peaceful plains beside those living streams God's people, so long pilgrims and wanderers, shall find a home in a peaceable habitation and in sure dwellings and in quiet resting places. There they build houses and inhabit them and plant vineyards and eat the fruit of them, with none building for another to inhabit or planting for another to eat, but the elect long enjoying the work of their hands. Violence is no more heard in the land nor wasting nor destruction within its borders, but walls are called Salvation and gates Praise, and the wilderness and desert rejoice with the wolf dwelling with the lamb and the leopard with the kid while a little child leads them without hurt in the holy mountain. Pain cannot exist in its atmosphere, with no tears, no funeral trains, no badges of mourning, no more death, neither sorrow nor crying nor sickness, for the former things are passed away and the people that dwell therein are forgiven their iniquity.

Its glory far surpasses anything eye has seen or ear heard on earth and exceeds what human language and finite minds can describe, to be known fully only when seen. It is the earth made new where the redeemed will spend eternity free from suffering and heartache. Yet the city is not a great way off but very near, with the time of tarrying almost ended and Christ rapidly nearing the time to gather His redeemed to Himself. A little longer and the saints will see the King in His beauty, have all tears wiped away, and be presented faultless with exceeding joy, when the righteous dead are raised and the righteous living are taken.

It is the prospective rest in God's paradise with honor and glory in store for the servants of Jehovah. It is a heavenly land where all is joy and peace and happiness, with rest, peace, and joy given through Christ's sacrifice. There is no more hunger, thirst, heat, or tears, as God's people live with Christ among the redeemed, serving God and seeing the King.

People Who Desire It

Abraham proves the promised heritage is not in this world, for though God called him to leave idolatrous countrymen with the promise of Canaan as an everlasting possession, neither he nor his son nor his son's son received it in their lifetime but died in faith without receiving the promised possessions. Though he possessed great substance which he used to the glory of God and the good of his fellow men, he did not look upon this world as his home and had no possession in the earth, not so much as to set his foot on, so that when he desired a burial place for his dead he had to buy it of the Canaanites, his sole possession in the land of promise being that rock-hewn tomb in the cave of Machpelah for Sarah. He looked instead for a better, heavenly country and was satisfied by the hope of immortal life on the purified earth as his home, teaching that God's people as pilgrims and strangers need not expect their full reward in earthly land, wealth, possessions, gold or silver here but look forward to an eternal reward.

Moses is among those who died in faith without receiving the promises, having seen them afar off and embraced them, confessing they were strangers and pilgrims on earth who plainly sought a country and would not return to the country they came out of but desired a better, heavenly country. He showed this by refusing to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing suffering with God's people over the pleasures of sin for a season, counting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt, forsaking Egypt without fearing the king's wrath, and enduring as seeing Him who is invisible because he respected the recompense of the reward. God trained him to be delivered from self-sufficiency, pride as a general of the Egyptian armies, Egyptian schooling, association with evil, and a worldly standard that would pervert the true moral standard, and because he so desired the heavenly country God is not ashamed to be called his God and has prepared a city for him. The faithful descendants of Seth likewise followed Abel's pastoral life dwelling in tents and booths and counted themselves strangers and pilgrims on earth while seeking a heavenly country, with hope set on the restored Eden and the city God has prepared. This stands in contrast to Cain, who went out from the presence of the Lord, cast away the promise of the restored Eden, founded an earthly city named for his son, and sought his possessions and enjoyment in the earth under the curse of sin at the head of those who worship the god of this world.

Enoch lived this desire by setting his heart on eternal treasures instead of gathering gold and silver or building possessions on earth, having looked on the celestial city God prepared and seen the King in His glory in the midst of Zion. His mind, his heart, and his conversation were in heaven, and the greater the iniquity around him grew the more earnest his longing for the home of God became, so that while still on earth he dwelt by faith in the realms of light. Noah, Enoch, Abraham and others like them honored God by faith and proved their faith by works, walking with Him to greater and still greater heights in confidence, communion and integrity against great odds in a time no more favorable to righteous character than the present, a word that God owns them as His people sounding down to the present time. Noah was righteous in his generation, Enoch was faithful and true in walking with God until God took him, Abraham pleased God by walking with Him in confidence and communion, opening his heart to Him and moving with godly fear at every step because he believed God's Word, and Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Noah and Daniel are seen among the holy people in scenes on the new earth.

Those who so desire it are those in whom Christ has restored the moral image of God, for Christ came to give fallen human beings power to obey God's commandments so that the divine character is restored in them and their lives are adorned with God's holiness. They supremely desire the blessings of salvation and hunger for righteousness, are not charmed by the pleasures of this life, handle the things of this world without becoming worldly by following the principles of heaven in all they do, and declare plainly that they seek a heavenly country rather than returning to the country they left, confessing themselves strangers and pilgrims on earth, many dying in faith without having received the promises, having only seen them afar off, been persuaded of them, and embraced them. They love and fear God and answer His claims with entire surrender of themselves to His service even in bereavement, sorrow and agony, seeing the vanity and nothingness of the world's customs, fashions, aspirations and invitations, with a view of future eternal life and the treasure promised to the faithful creating respect for the recompense of the reward. When temptation assails they remain firm and steadfast in allegiance, serving God alone under the banner of Christ, giving up their own way and will and sacrificing prospects of worldly gain for Christ's sake while relying on the assurance of God's Word, laying aside the sinful nature and putting off the old man with his deeds and putting on Jesus Christ as the new man, being made new in the image of God and the likeness of Christ, lifting the standard of character high and never thinking it too high.

God's exiled and pilgrim people show it by not setting their hearts much on earthly houses, goods, livelihoods or hardships but lifting their eyes to heaven as their dearest country and quieting their spirits with joy in free spiritual communion with God even while strangers in a strange land and pinched with poverty. When they must leave houses, goods and means of livelihood and become strangers among people of different language and customs, they look not much on earthly things but cheerfully accept poverty and untried labor and find joy in unmolested communion. Desiring the better, heavenly country makes them leave their own land when serving God according to conscience is no longer possible there, discerning when persecution leaves no promise of better days and England or any homeland ceases to be habitable for the faithful, and then seek refuge elsewhere even through difficulties, losses, imprisonment, thwarted purposes and betrayal into enemies' hands, persevering steadfastly until shelter is found. They stand as a pilgrim band as on Jordan's stormy banks in this life casting a wishful eye to Canaan's fair and happy land where their possessions lie, and having seen that better world makes this present world look dark and gloomy by comparison, spoiling this world and leaving homesickness and weeping at still being here.

God Unashamed to Own

Because they desire the heavenly country, God is not ashamed to be called their God, gladly and openly owning them as His people, for He has a city made ready for them. They died without receiving the promises, yet looked ahead to that country rather than longing to return to the former home they had left, and their life as strangers and pilgrims expressed faith in what they had not yet seen. Their experience is an example for workers for God to act in faith, trusting that God hears and answers prayer. Those thus transformed are those in whom Christ has restored the moral image of God, giving fallen human beings power to obey the commandments so that the divine character is restored and life is adorned with holiness. That hope was held by patriarchs and prophets living as strangers and pilgrims and was also held out to the disciples, looking toward an inheritance whose foundations, maker and builder are God. The life that seeks it plainly shows through character and conduct a desire for that better country.

He owns them because they honor Him by faith shown through works, character and conduct. He has a city ready for those who lay aside the sinful nature and put off the old man with his deeds and put on Jesus Christ as the new man, being made new in the image of God and the likeness of Christ. Those who enjoy the privileges of truth and love are to set desire on being there and lift the standard of character high, never thinking it too high. They sought the heavenly country rather than happiness in earthly possessions or pleasures, placing themselves and all they had in God's hands and living for His glory, and they did not disgrace Him before the world. This is seen in Noah, Enoch, Abraham and others like them, who honored Him by faith and proved faith by works, walking with God to greater and still greater heights and keeping integrity against great odds in a time no more favorable to righteous character than the present. Noah was righteous in his generation, Enoch was faithful and true in walking with God until God took him, and Abraham pleased God by walking with Him in confidence and communion, opening his heart to Him and moving with godly fear at every step because he believed God's word, and that word that God owns them as His people sounds down to the present time. He is also not ashamed to call them brethren.

Their consecration lets Him entrust them with truth to make His will known. They show this faith by refusing to make earthly possessions or worldly ambitions their aim, dedicating what they have to God's kingdom, living for God's glory, and declaring themselves strangers and pilgrims on earth, and their conduct makes faith plain so He can use them to make His will known to the world. He is not ashamed to acknowledge as His children those who give up all for Christ, whose consecration is seen in refusing to imitate the world's display and in letting dress, homes and conversation testify to higher aims and devotion to God. He owns those who improve mind and manners and know and do His will, for this life is a school where people are both learners and teachers, fitting themselves and others for a higher sphere of action in the future life. The measure of usefulness is knowing the will of God and doing it, and it is within human power to improve in mind and manners until He is not ashamed to acknowledge them as His own. This calls for a high standard, calling people of culture and of intellectual and moral power to the front to fill places in institutions.

Complaining when called to endure self-denial and suffering for Christ would make God ashamed. Sharing Christ's suffering is a privilege and prepares for sharing His glory.

Living as Pilgrims

Believers are pilgrims, strangers, travelers and sojourners with no lasting home here, journeying by faith toward the heavenly land and soon to move there. Those born from above do not belong to this world but honor God with pure and holy conversation, with hearts flowing in love and gratitude for salvation, seeking the promised city and immortal inheritance rather than letting earthly wealth and cares hold their affections. Their earnest watchful waiting and separation from worldly aims show they are transformed and love Christ rather than the world, trusting God at every step toward the country whose builder and maker is God.

There are two citizenships, of this world and of the heavenly country, so belonging to God means being in the world but not of it, separate from the world while living in it. As members of the royal family and children of the heavenly King they are chosen out, not conformed to the world nor ruled by its standards, for the world is not their instructor. The world does not know them because it did not know Christ, and they impress the world only by speaking and acting as representatives of Christ, revealing heavenly origin in manner and words and character, showing forth His praises, exalting the Lord's way in righteousness, doing no injustice to His blood-bought subjects, and never apologizing for daring to be right. Citizens of this world unite in doing as they please and living for pleasure, seeking a happiness they never obtain, and as lovers of pleasure they cannot see truth or know Jesus Christ, so distinguishing the two citizenships requires gaining attention long enough to form ideas of higher character than trivial plays and selfish amusements.

That hope must be made plain by works, character and conduct declaring they seek that homeland and founded city, trusting God's promises and looking toward the inheritance of the saints. They treat the things of this life as minor and passing and value the enduring heavenly inheritance and kingdom treasures above every earthly concern, refusing to make this world, its fashions or pleasures their home or treasure but working for eternal things. They refuse to spend God's treasure to glorify self, treat terrible calamity as the stroke of an offended God, and prove by sanctified life and belief in Christ's soon coming in power and great glory that they are solid Christians and not merely professors, preparing before probation closes. It is denied by works when cares engross attention and love for this world and its treasures with a close, penurious, selfish and avaricious spirit holds the affections, when large purchases and a life centered on earthly possessions declare home and treasure are here. Such fruit does not honor God, does not wean from the world, is not filled with self-denial and good works and blameless life, contradicts profession of Christ's near coming, makes faith undesirable to watchers, fails to lead them to glorify the Father, and destroys confidence in the truth of the Lord's near coming.

Seeking it calls for refusing to make earthly possessions, wealth or worldly ambitions the aim, living for God's glory and advancing His cause with loosened affections from earthly gain. Because home is not on earth they reduce and simplify what they own, practice self-denial and economy, contribute cheerfully to support the ministry, make a covenant with God by sacrifice, and, because time for saving souls is short, bring whatever is beyond positive necessities as a thank-offering to God. Lavish spending to glorify self contradicts that hope while genuine Christian character and faith in Christ's soon coming make it visible, and hope of moving to the better country supports freedom from costly display. Loving money and refusing to return to the Lord what He lent makes money a god and forfeits both present happiness and the city, and treasures fixed in the heart will be scattered or consumed in the last fires. Self-indulgence and covetously spending wealth on self cannot secure citizenship there, for a place in the heavenly country and eternal riches belong to those who follow Christ, accept His character, become subjects of His kingdom, use property as a lent talent to test for eternal riches, and do good as their Master did, while those who will not be good and do good will have no place in the mansions prepared for those who love Him.

Earthly houses are only temporary dwelling places, and money and possessions belong to the Lord to be used to His glory, so needless furniture and expense are left aside to help the needy and build churches while looking for the heavenly home. The hope of that home turns attention from beautifying earthly homes at the soul's expense toward putting on Christ's righteousness and overcoming to be received into paradise, for fine buildings, wealth and attractive surroundings will all pass away. Strict economy is held as a fixed principle in every line, buying nothing merely for appearance, refusing even the appearance of costly furniture, and being content with odd, mismatched, defaced and worn secondhand pieces touched up cheaply, choosing only plain durable things that bear rough handling and moving from place to place. Resources not needed for genuine necessities are offered to God to support modest debt-free houses of worship and schools and mission fields rather than pride, display or selfish projects, erecting only a plain neat tasteful tabernacle dedicated to God free from debt and not a cathedral, refusing needless adornment or loss to interest on debt.

Those expecting immortality share homes with people made homeless or needy, including believers deprived of homes through opposition and persecution, for Christ's sacrifice provides a home for pilgrims seeking the better country. They choose to follow Christ rather than imitate the world in dress and practice, giving up extras in dress to help those facing suffering and bereavement, for though pride and splendid clothing were present in His day He came to help the poor and needy and did not wear splendid dress like the priests. They refuse worldly parties of pleasure, worldly dress, worldly amusements and entanglement in politics, answering refusal by seeking to be like Christ after His perfect pattern, wanting Christ's peace, being a light to a crooked and perverse nation, and giving life to saving souls. The precious pearl pictures that country as better than the world and worth sacrificing worldly possessions to gain, gained only by valuing it above all else, and those who do not prize it above the world cannot have it. True children do not seek happiness in possessions or cheap transitory amusements appealing to the carnal heart but desire lasting joys and eternal riches in the city where Christ dwells as the reward of obedience.

The journey includes disappointments and conflict with Satan, but believers keep looking to Jesus for help, turn apparent defeats into victories, and endure hardship in the fight of faith. God has not left them without help but scatters blessings along the path to brighten it and lead hearts to love and praise Him, giving precious promises like fair fragrant flowers bordering the way to lighten every burden, refresh hearts from the well of salvation, strengthen hope, turn darkness to light, and enable songs of Zion to cheer their own hearts and others'. A good earthly home gives weary pilgrims rest on the way. The path there is too narrow for rank, riches, ambition or ease and too steep and rugged for carriages or drifting, requiring a heart to sympathize with its inhabitants and a portion of toil, patience, self-sacrifice, reproach, poverty, hard work and enduring opposition as Christ did to enter paradise. A momentary act of will can place a person in Satan's power and wander from God, but return costs much and is gained only by hard fighting inch by inch, every hour, with toil, time, perseverance, patience and sacrifice.

The better country is reached only on paths God alone can guide safely through a corrupt world, by receiving the living Christ into the heart, believing and doing His words, and grasping every ray of heavenly light from its pure fountain instead of drinking from turbid valley streams. The Word opens that sure path for traveling safely toward it, and feet must be guided into the city by the true light of holiness and heavenly brightness and star of holiness shining from heaven, not by artificial false lights claiming to come from heaven which cannot guide and will deceive many for a time. The Holy Spirit brings glimpses of that country and city nigh, turning those to whom the world has been everything to realize eternity demands all attention, bringing afar-off things nigh, awakening new thoughts as divine power of truth is seen, and moving longing unsatisfied minds to ask what to do to inherit eternal life and begin new life with a new heart from the Redeemer who gave His life as propitiation for sin. The true light now shines to light every soul whose windows are opened heavenward for the journey.

Making toward that city is no funeral march but joyful when the channel to God's Word and Spirit is unobstructed, with heart, mind and soul depending on the living Word and speaking as moved by the Holy Ghost. Beholding the bright things of God and the joy set before us, looking for the city whose builder and maker is God and the mansions Jesus has gone to prepare, and talking of that blessed home makes annoyances and fretting cares be forgotten, so believers breathe heaven's atmosphere and are soothed, comforted and made joyful in God, not fastening the eye on deformity and the curse but on abundant riches of grace. Christ taught minds to lift from earthly exile to that future eternal home by communing with God in holy song, singing psalms and heavenly songs with cheerfulness, praise and thanksgiving even while sharing poverty, toil, weariness and daily cares. That hope should occupy thoughts and conversation rather than trivial earthly subjects, for heaven as the better country is more important than any earthly city or country. God's created works are meant to keep Him in remembrance and draw hearts from merely earthly and sensual things to love and gratitude to the Creator, learning to value that country, speak of the Christian's reward, daily become fit for the homes Jesus prepared, while beauty of flowers recalls Eden and directs the mind to the promised country soon to be entered.

Seeking it must be earnest and intelligent, pursuing the salvation bought at infinite price rather than neglecting it. It means living for eternal life, becoming partakers of the divine nature with life hid with Christ in God, refusing to let anything separate from God and heaven. The faithful prepare by practicing truth, loving God and others, allowing Christ's strength and grace to purify affections and bring thoughts and passions under His control, marked by virtue and helping one another grow in character toward an abundant entrance into Christ's everlasting kingdom. Character building for it takes a lifetime of careful faithful work because eternal interests are involved, keeping eternal life in view to form fit characters and save others while angels watch development and weigh moral worth. Preparation means digging deep and laying a sure foundation, learning heaven's speech, steadily advancing in God's strength with transformed character and conscience void of offense toward God and man, proving by faithfulness in service readiness to enter, keeping the city God built and prepared always in view and pressing forward toward His kingdom.

This life is a school where people are learners and teachers fitting self and others for higher action in the future superior life, with usefulness measured by knowing and doing God's will, improving mind and manners until God is not ashamed to own them, calling culture and intellectual and moral power to fill places in institutions. The present probationary life is the time to get ready to relocate to lasting founded dwelling places in the Father's house, using every moment well because judgment measures faithfulness to opportunities, not devoting all time to money matters that cannot save nor to gratifying and glorifying self. Getting ready to move to the mansions means refusing to let earthly things absorb the mind and draw attention from eternal things, waking from lethargy, realizing danger, preparing for eternity, standing on the watchtower to sound the warning, and giving the special message without silence. It also means putting affairs in order, directing entrusted means toward believers rather than unbelievers, and supporting the final work. It requires holding no earthly place permanent but obeying when the Lord tells to move even when inconvenient or seemingly inconsistent, ready to leave an earthly home when called, looking for the heavenly home to come.

It calls for waiting for and loving the appearing of God and Saviour Jesus Christ who will change vile bodies to be like His glorious body, living as children of the King and people waiting for the Lord, looking to Jesus rather than dwelling on the world's sin and evil, and caring more for souls Christ came to save than for possessions or business. The same hope that gladdened Abraham still makes every soul of Abraham's children stand by faith happy in hope while seeking the city with foundations, discerned by faith as the eternal weight of glory for every overcomer. Earthly wealth cannot buy entrance and human achievements giving no light on that way do not point there, while choosing companions that strengthen body, soul and spirit and avoiding influences weakening pure right principles helps form Christlike character for it. Canaan in sight is the beautiful home where the Lord will be Father and His people children and wickedness ends, and a place there must be secured now by the Spirit's power, every piece of the gospel armor, and clear sharp discernment so as not to be taken captive. The better world draws those receiving grace, and hope of that heavenly home supports contentment and faithful service where one is now.

Seeking it is incompatible with malice, guile, hypocrisy, envy, evil speaking, covetousness, vanity, uncontrolled temper, or trying to crowd out and supplant others, and those cherishing such fruits will not enter heaven or the kingdom. That pilgrim calling makes one brotherhood with one bond of interest, united to the great Center, Christ who gave Himself for them. When the Spirit moves, petty complaints and accusing are healed, all prejudice melted away, and no distinction made between rich and poor, white or black in worship, and there in the heavenly country songs will catch the inspiring theme with thanksgiving and praise to God. This hope accompanies a life of service, for those joined to the Lord in covenant are bound to cooperate with Him in saving souls, working earnestly and devotedly to draw sinners to Christ while journeying, doing good and laying treasure in heaven in view of judgment and preparing self and others for glory, honor and immortality. Workers must be spiritually minded and carry religion into work to lead others toward that heavenly Canaan rather than backward to Egypt, sending treasures ahead to heaven rather than fastening them to worldly wealth. Teachers who fail so to seek it lead those under them to carelessness and neglect of the great salvation, while parents are to shape children's characters to bless others now and shine in God's presence forever in the higher life.

Faith so looks beyond this world toward heaven and Canaan that those following God fully through duty, self-denial and hardship move toward it each day, with feet on earth but hearts drawn to God making heaven chief joy and consolation, traveling toward the eternal home, the holy city and earth made new. The present world is only earthly exile and temporary dwelling, and earthly joys and sorrows are temporary, with the desert journey ending in the holy land and city of God.