Hope for a Heavenly City

Hey, hey, good morning, morning. Welcome to Coffee and Devotions. This morning we're at Hebrews chapter 11, verses 13, verses 13 through 16. Hebrews 11, 13 through 16. We're going to be talking about what type of hope do we have? One that we can see or one that we're looking forward to, waiting for.
Let's have some coffee, we'll pray, and we'll get into God's Word. Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for this day and we thank you for your word. We do pray, Lord, that you would help us as we desire to hear from you. Lord, we pray that you would teach us, instruct us. Lord, make us wise in your ways and not in our own understanding, for you are good and you are just in all your ways. Help us, Lord, we pray in Jesus' name, amen. All right, here we go, Hebrews 11, beginning at verse 13.
These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, were assured of them, embracing them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. and truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Well, this is what we need to do. Ask ourselves our ABCs. A, what is this about? B, what's the best verse to summarize? And C, what are we called to do? So A, what is this about? Well, we've been going through the different people so far. We talked about Cain and Abel and Abel's sacrifice. We talked about Noah. We talked about Sarah. We talked about Abraham.
And all of these people, verse 13 says, died in faith. They were made promises, but they never got to see the promises. They were made promises and yet they died believing, hoping, knowing that someday God would make it sure. It says, but having seen them afar off were assured of them. They saw them by faith. They knew that God is good and he was going to accomplish it. And so they embraced these promises, even though they knew that they were strangers and pilgrims on earth.
See, the promises, as it said about Abraham, he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. He knew he was waiting for a heavenly city, a city that God would establish. And he waited for that, and he was a sojourner, a pilgrim on earth.
Interestingly enough, that's the same language God uses in the New Testament even for us, as we have this dual citizenship, as we are citizens of our nation now, and yet we're also awaiting That day where we know we are citizens in heaven, where the true city is, the Zion that's in heaven. And then that city is not made with human hands. And so we look there. We look there.
For those who say such things, declare plainly that they seek a homeland. You know, I love our country. I love living in America. There are so many freedoms or so many blessings with being an American. I'm not proud or I'm not I'm not somehow ashamed to say I'm proud to be an American. Right. That makes me think of a country song. But the point being, right, it's not wrong to be thankful. Maybe you're living in Germany or you're living in Brazil or Portugal or Mexico or the UK, and you may be proud to be a citizen of that country. And that's fine. But the question is, is that your ultimate nationality and heritage? Is that whose nation you truly are a part of? Is that what city you ultimately belong to? No, we await the heavenly Jerusalem. We look forward to that celestial city where we go and we have our citizenship with Him in heaven.
And truly, if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out of, they would have had opportunity to return. They could have gone back home. Abraham and Sarah could have gone back home, but they trusted in God's promises. The whole point is here, don't turn back.
Yeah, you know where you live now. but your true citizenship is in heaven. That's where your inheritance is kept safe for you by God himself. That's where Jesus Christ ministers in a heavenly tabernacle with better sacrifices and better promises on a better oath with a better priesthood. And so we look to that city that was not made by human hands. But now they desire a better, that is a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them." There is a city for God's people.
But there is no tear. There is no night. There is no assault by the enemy. But it's filled with peace and joy, a worshiping of the Lamb who was slain. Trust in that city, though you cannot see it, though it may be a far off. Have assurance that his promises are real. Don't look back. Keep going towards that celestial city. Keep going. As he encourages you, as he strengthens you, look to your right and to your left.
See those who are also traveling along that narrow way, headed towards that heavenly city. and have assurance that God's promises are for you if you are in Christ. Let's pray. Father, we thank you so much for giving us hope, for giving us joy. Lord, we pray that we would indeed have faith. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Well, may the Lord bless you. May you walk in the joy and peace of Jesus Christ, and I'll see you next time. Bye.