Imagine a city that gleams with the brilliance of God’s glory, where His pure light shines through the diamonds, the gold, and all the multi-colored precious stones therein.
Revelation 21:16 And the city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs. The length and the breadth and the height of it are equal.
That Heavenly city is about 1,400 miles. If one edge was placed on the Atlantic Ocean, the opposite edge would sit near Denver, CO.
If the north edge sat on the Canadian border, the south edge would sit somewhere around Miami, FL.
When the Lord saved us He placed within us a desire to be in His Father’s house — that Heavenly city — our eternal home.
So, we walk, we fight, we rejoice, we suffer, we win, we lose, we stumble and fall, we get up and go on again; all because we have caught a glimpse of a place we have never seen, and we want to be there more than we want to be here — not just for the beauty, but we want to see our Savior.
Jesus gives us this hope in the troubled world we live in.
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
[2] In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
[3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
Did I mention that I have a mansion there?
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“I'm satisfied with just a cottage below, — A little silver and a little gold. — But in that city where the ransomed will shine — I want a gold one that's silver lined.
Chorus
“I've got a mansion just over the hilltop — In that bright land where we'll never grow old. — And some day yonder we will never more wander — But walk on streets that are purest gold.
“Though often tempted, tormented and tested — And like the prophet, my pillow a stone. — And though I find here, no permanent dwelling, — I know He'll give me a mansion my own.
“Don't think me poor or deserted or lonely. — I'm not discouraged, I'm heaven bound. — I'm just a pilgrim in search of a city, — I want a mansion, a harp and a crown.”
Ira Stanphill
Ideas for this unprofitable blog are taken from The Sermon Notebook—Biblical resources for preachers and teachers of the word of God. They allow these sermons to be used as the Lord leads but not for profit.
