CITY OF GOD

1. The world is increasingly disenchanted with a Church that is largely disoriented and lost in her WAYS, “Having a FORM OF GODLINESS, but DENYING THE POWER thereof: … Ever learning, and never able to come to the KNOWLEDGE of the TRUTH” [2 Timothy 3:5-7] There is growing vexation in the Church; flocks raised on promises of material prosperity are deluded, many saying: “… it is vain to serve God: and WHAT PROFIT IS IT THAT WE HAVE KEPT HIS ORDINANCE, and that we have walked mournfully before the LORD of hosts?” [Malachi 3:14] Multitudes are daily led, blindfolded to slaughter by “Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself” [1 Timothy 6:5] Listen closely,  there is nothing on this side of eternity to compensate for the death of Jesus Christ on the Cross; the reason we SERVE and OBEY His COMMANDMENTS is the CITY OF GOD, as it is written:“Blessed are they that DO HIS COMMANDMENTS that they may have right to the TREE OF LIFE, and may ENTER in through the gates into the CITY” [Revelation 22:14] 

2. The GOSPEL we preach is Christ’s INVITATION to inherit the CITY OF GOD, as it is written: “… I go to PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU.  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” [John 14:1-2] We are PILGRIMS in this world, our destination is the CITY prepared for those who come to God through Jesus Christ, and I tell you, “… Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath PREPARED FOR THEM THAT LOVE HIM” [1 Corinthians2:9] We are not alone, the Bible testify of men and women like you and I who gave up whatever was accounted “LAWFUL” to fulfil the pilgrimage. If we are pressed beyond measure by weaknesses of the FLESH and sundry AFFLICTIONS, so were they, if not more and kept the FAITH. They set their COMPASS beyond the present world, refused to  be DISTRACTED by what they SEE or how they FEEL, but “… desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath PREPARED FOR THEM A CITY” [Hebrews 11:16] As PILGRIMS and STRANGERS in this world, let us walk worthy of the CALLING, very much aware God has the same rule for us as those who went before,  “… let us lay aside every WEIGHT, and the SIN which doth so easily beset us, and let us RUN WITH PATIENCE the RACE that is set before us” [Hebrews 12:1]

3. CITY OF GOD is our eternal inheritance,  the TABERNACLE of our everlasting FELLOWSHIP with the ALMIGHTY, “… Behold, the TABERNACLE OF GOD is with men, and HE WILL DWELL WITH THEM, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” [Revelation 21:3] The HOLY OF HOLIES in the wilderness was a man-made replica, wherein was the ARK and the High Priest entered once a year; the real, “… city lieth foursquare, and the length is as large as the breadth: and he measured the city with the reed, TWELVE THOUSAND FURLOND FURLONGS. The LENGTH and the BREADTH and the HEIGHT of it are EQUAL” [Revelation 21:15] The dimensions are mind boggling, 12,000 furlongs, approximately 1,500 miles, in all directions, “… and the CITY was pure GOLD, like unto clear glass” [Revelation 21:18] The CITY extends to  space, far beyond the KARMAN LINE of  62 miles above Sea level. The LIFE of God flows through as a river, to wipe away all SORROW and fill every heart with gladness, as it is written: “There is a river, the STREAMS WHEREOF shall MAKE GLAD the CITY OF GOD, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High” [Psalms 46:4] In the midst of the street of it is the TREE OF LIFE, which yield “TWELVE MANNER of FRUITS”, the true “FLESH OF THE SON OF MAN” [John 6:53] In the City, we shall see the Lord, eat of the TREE OF LIFE, we shall be like Him in glory, “And there shall be NO MORE CURSE: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall SEE HIS FACE; and HIS NAME shall be in their foreheads” [Revelation 22:3-4]

4. Beloved, let no man deceive you, the sole purpose of your SALVATION is to take your place in the CITY OF GOD, “For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?” [Mark 8:36] For this reason, God was manifest in Jesus Christ to RECONCILE us to Himself, “And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven” [Colossians 1:20] We are as SOLDIERS in this world, we have an ADVERSARY who preys on the FLESH, using “THINGS” and “AFFAIRS” of this world to DISTRACT from the WAY. We must, therefore FIGHT day and night to enter the heavenly CITY, for “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the AFFAIRS OF THIS LIFE; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier” [2 Timothy 2:] Palpable distress and general instability around us are signs of the coming of the Lord, many are tired and some are fallen. I know the times are harsh, HOLD ON and WEEP NO MORE, very soon we shall enter the CITY, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away” [Revelation 21:4]
 
5. Accept Jesus Christ as your LORD and SAVIOUR, and book your place in the CITY OF GOD, amen