Sojourners, Waiting for the City Built by God

Now therefore, fear the LORD, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the LORD! And if it seems evil to you to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the River, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD. (Joshua 24:14-15)

Joshua tells Israel to serve God in sincerity and truth. I have found that I must keep myself very close to Jesus in prayer and worship to continue serving Him faithfully and with a sincere heart of love for others. And, I must stay in His Word to know and to speak His truth. I know there are many times that I am lacking in one, if not all four of these imperatives given in Joshua. Fear the LORD, serve, serve in sincerity, serve in truth. The justice of God is severe, but the grace of God abounds more. Lord, may we walk in your love, in the sincerity of a changed heart. May we know and speak the truth in love. Jesus said to love one another and that the Holy Spirit would lead us into all truth, comforting and teaching us as we walk with Him. May our hearts be comforted, so that we may comfort those in need. And may we be led and taught by the Lord, so that we may teach those in darkness.

Joshua also exhorted the children of Israel to put away the gods which their fathers served on the other side of the Jordan and in Egypt. Let us not fall back to our old life before Christ, still walking in the ways of this world. Let us not slide back into the old ways, in which we lived in sin without the light of Christ. Empower me to love and serve You with all of my heart, soul and mind, Lord. Joshua said to choose this day who you will serve.

Peter says we are sojourners here on earth. Our home is with our God. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love (Colossians 1:13). Whatever country we live in is not our home. This world is not our home. God bless America and the freedom we have everyday to worship and serve Him. But America is not our home and it is not the best nation that will ever exist. Under David and Solomon, Israel was as close to a Theocracy as they would ever get. But a Theocracy is the government we are waiting for, the one that God describes through Isaiah.

For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end, Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, To order it and establish it with judgment and justice From that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. (Isaiah 9:6-7)

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. (Colossians 3:1-4)

Like Abraham, who waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God. (Hebrews 11:10)

Sojourner, do you feel at home? We are not at home here in this world. We are looking for a New City, the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:2), whose builder and maker is God. But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel (Hebrews 12:22-24).