No Permanent City On Earth
Photo by Ben Dutton on Unsplash
A New and Different Relationship with God
In chapter 13 of Hebrews, we find more practical admonitions and another exhortation to look beyond the circumstances of our lives. A simple, yet profound truth anchors our confidence to trust in the Lord—
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. (Hebrews 13:8)
The Old and New Covenants are not just two different covenants or commitments between God and His people. They are two different relationships with God.
What separates them is the motivations they are based on. Under the first, the Old Covenant, acceptance was based on obedience to the Law of Moses. But in the second, the New Covenant, our acceptance by God is based on God's grace given to us through Jesus.
Following Jesus means we are to move forward by faith because of our relationship with Him. Living by faith helps us see beyond life in this natural world. Because we trust in Jesus personally, our hope is not tied to our life on the earth.
Just as Abraham and his descendants before us sought a promised land by faith, we seek the Lord and the life He promises. The life He promises extends beyond our life on earth. No place or city on earth is a permanent home for us. Our permanent home is with Jesus in eternity.
Scripture Text
Remember your leaders who have spoken God’s word to you. Think about how their lives turned out, and imitate their faith.
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. [vss 7-8]
Don’t get carried away by all kinds of unfamiliar teachings. Gaining inner strength from God’s kindness [grace] is good for us. This strength does not come from following rules about food, rules that don’t help those who follow them. Those who serve at the tent have no right to eat what is sacrificed at our altar. [vss 9-10]
The chief priest brings the blood of animals into the holy place as an offering for sin. But the bodies of those animals were burned outside the Israelite camp. That is why Jesus suffered outside the gates of Jerusalem. He suffered to make the people holy with his own blood. So we must go to him outside the camp and endure the insults he endured.
We don’t have a permanent city here on earth, but we are looking for the city that we will have in the future. [vss 11-14]
(Hebrews 13:7-14 GW) [Context– Hebrews 13]
Key Phrase
We don’t have a permanent city here on earth.
Things to Consider
People often portray the Christian life as a life of moral goodness and goodwill towards others. But this is not what the Lord Jesus called His followers to do. He called us to surrender our lives and selfish wills to Him and live by faith (see Matthew 16:24).
Christian believers ought to live morally upright lives and have goodwill towards others, but this ought to flow from our relationship with the Lord. Jesus said that loving God and your neighbor is good and that it sums up the Law and the Prophets (see Matthew 22:37-40).
But Jesus calls believers to a higher calling (see Philippians 3:8-14). He calls us to put our trust in Him rather than anything tied to this earthly life. This is a major challenge for most of us. It’s a challenge for us to see beyond our earthly lives by faith (see Hebrews 11).
When we have a heavenly mindset, we can still do good on earth because we have a heavenly confidence and hope. Our confidence and hope are in Jesus Christ alone. Why? Because He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
When we trust in Him, Jesus becomes the anchor of our lives and souls on earth.
Digging Deeper Into the Text
What are we told about our "leaders"? Why are we to imitate their faith and example?
What are we told about Jesus? How is it related to what is said before and after this statement?
Where are we not to gain our strength from, and where are we to gain it?
Where did Jesus suffer? Why did Jesus suffer, and why is this important?
Answer These Questions to Apply God’s Word in Your Life
Why are we to follow the example and faith of our spiritual leaders, and how could this be taken the wrong way?
Why do you think the statement about Jesus being the same yesterday, today, and forever directly follows the exhortation to imitate the faith of leaders?
Do you understand how grace is related to those who live and serve God by faith?
Does your trust in God help you see beyond your immediate earthly needs?
Here’s a link to a free study guide for the book of Hebrews— Study Guide and Study Questions for Hebrews
And you can also see some of my writing over on Substack too! Just click this link– Trip Kimball on Substack
