Bro Kenneth Yoder
13:14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
Christians have no enduring city in this life, but are looking for the city to come. This refers to the fact that Christians have no abiding home in this world but are looking forward to a permanent abode in the eternal city of God.
Christians are described as pilgrims, those who are dwelling for the time being in a foreign land while they are citizens of the city of God, (see I Peter 1:1 & 2:11; also Philippians 3:20 & James 1:1). Our situation is one of tension between the desires to either accommodate ourselves to this present world or to the pursuing of the city of God. We are often tempted to seek to become comfortable and complacent in our present surroundings instead of earnestly pressing on to the city of God.
We are in danger of losing our perspective as pilgrims even in our religious endeavors. Churches often engage in great building projects and settle down to building great ministries instead of pursuing spiritual maturity. We have a tendency to forget that we are pilgrims seeking for the city of God. But really friend, the only things that are going to last are the spiritual realities. These are more important then the physical buildings we worship in or even our ministries. In fact the truth is, (and this may discourage some) but there are no continuing congregations or ministries. In time, every one of them departs from the truth. In time, your buildings will be occupied by people who do not stand for the truth. If you doubt that statement just consider the history of the church. Every generation experiences a resurgence of new churches; people with new enthusiasm and love for the Lord. This is demanded because the older ones accommodate themselves to this present world.
We see that happening to the movements of which some of us are a part of today. Some thirty years ago we were the "come-outers". We were the ones full of zeal wanting to rebuild spiritual Zion. But today, my friend, many of our pastors have become very settled and far more materialist than in earlier days. Our churches have provided their pastors with many comforts and accommodations and all of this materialism, has had an affect on them. It has had the effect of causing many to lose their pilgrim attitude.
Back in the early 1960's we were more interested in establishing new churches. We were on fire and full of zeal. Maybe you don't remember but there was a desire to start new churches by calling God's people to a deeper walk and renewed spiritual life. Today we have abandoned most of our former zeal and have become very comfort-conscious and have settled down to the task of building works which provide security and financial protection. The pilgrim attitude has been lost to a great degree. 'We have no continuing city." Nothing is going to last in this time-world. Nothing! That's the reason why we are looking for the city of God, which will never end. If we put our confidence in buildings or the people who occupy them and those people fall away from God then we feel that everything is lost. But the things that are most important still remain. If congregations or camp-meetings go down spiritually that doesn't mean that all is lost. The things that are most important still abide and yet stand. If congregations don't continue faithful there is something which is eternal. That home beyond this world is what you and I should be pursuing.
With this introduction let us study this scriptural text. "For here we have no continuing city." The "we" of this text is of course Christian believers. Christians have no enduring city in this life. We are not to build a city here. We are not to build a permanent home here. We are not to even look for a permanent home here. We are, my friend, to keep our eyes on our eternal home. Now that doesn't mean we can't have houses to live in, but I hope you understand that this is referring to the pilgrim attitude.
We are looking forward to and seeking for a city to come. That city is the city built by God. God is the founder and the builder of that city. The journey which you and I are engaged in is to the city of God and that is what characterizes us as pilgrims. We are strangers and pilgrims in this world. Somebody may ask, "What does that mean?" It simply means, we are passing through. This world is not our home. This is not, my friend, the place of our goals. This world is not the place of our dreams. This world is not what our heart is set on. Our home is somewhere beyond this life.
In our pursuit of the city of God, we resemble the Old Testament Patriarchs. They expected and sought for a city built by God. They left their home country in search of it.
Hebrews 11:13-16 These a/I died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they 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.
In this passage of scripture the writer is referring to the patriarchs when he wrote, "these all died in faith. "The expression "these all" referred to Abraham, Sarah, Isaac and Jacob. These patriarchs "confess that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. Somebody may ask, "What is meant by this confession?" It meant that they recognized and accepted the status of being a pilgrim and a foreigner in this world. In like manner you and I must also come to the place where we recognize that we are foreigners and pilgrims in this world. This world, my friend, is not our home. We should not feel too comfortable here. We ought to feel as one traveling in a foreign nation. Those of you who have visited a foreign country know about the uneasiness which one feels while there.
We ought to be willing to confess or declare that this world is not our home. Hey, I'm a stranger here. Somebody once said to me, "you don't fit into this society." That's right, I am a misfit. I just don't feel at home. My values, goals and life-style cause me to act different. We ought to be different, because we are strangers and pilgrims. We need to recognize and to accept this status.
Now, what does “strangers and pilgrims" mean? This refers, my friend, to the temporary residence in a foreign land. These two words have a shade of difference in meaning, but they also are very similar in meaning. The word "stranger" as used in this passage doesn't mean one that is not well known by his neighbors. We often use the word "stranger" to mean a person who is not well known by his neighbors. But the Biblical usage of the word "stranger" means one who is not at home. He is a temporary resident. We would use the word "alien", or "foreigner". Some translations translate this word, "exile"; but that is not the correct idea. The old word "sojourner" is probably the most correct word but we don't use it very often so it doesn't convey the meaning it ought to. An "exile" is one who is forced to live away from his home-land; but the patriarchs were not forced to live away from home, they chose to do so.
To better understand this concept, let us read some more of the context which describes Abraham leaving his place of birth to follow God.
Hebrews 11:8-10 By faith Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed; and he went out, not knowing whither he went. By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
The word translated "sojourned'' in verse 9 is the same basic word translated "pilgrim" in verse 13. They are different forms of the same word; in verse 9 it appears as a verb, while in verse 13 it appears as a noun. The context is speaking of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. It reveals to us that they were sojourners or pilgrims, who were seeking for a city. In this respect you and I as Christian believers are to resemble them. We are seeking for the city built by God. Abraham was 75 years old when God called him to leave his homeland or the place of his birth. He left his home-land in response to the call of God. "He went out not knowing whither he went" Somebody may ask, "What does that mean?" It means he obeyed God when God called him from his home-land. Abraham engaged upon a journey not knowing exactly where it was going to end, but he knew that God had called him. He was not wondering, is God in this? He knew God had called him. He knew God was guiding him and he knew God would sustain him, but the details of the journey he didn't know. The details or the destination were not clear to him. God's call was to leave the place of his birth and to follow God. This is exactly what Abraham did.
"He sojourned in the land of promise (that is in Canaan) as in a strange country." Someone may ask, "What does that mean?" The city of Ur from whence Abraham came was a great city. It was located in a fertile valley and a place which was highly cultured. Therefore when Abraham arrived in Canaan he was easily recognized as a stranger or foreigner by his appearance; his dress; his mannerism; his language; his life-style; his values; and most importantly by his God. These things set him apart from others who lived in the land of Canaan.
I was purchasing some gasoline the other day and while giving the attendant my license plate number she ask what slate I was from and I answered "Ohio". She said, "You don't sound like you're from Ohio". She said she detected a southern accent. People can tell you're from somewhere else even if you speak the same language, by your accent. You are recognized and considered a stranger. People know you're not from around there. As citizens of the heavenly country we ought to be easily recognizable. We don't belong in this world. Our values, life-style and goals ought to set us apart as pilgrims and strangers.
Notice further how Abraham demonstrated the pilgrim attitude in verse 9, "dwelling in tabernacles". Somebody may ask, "What does that mean?" It means they lived in tents. The word translated "tabernacle" simply means a "tent". They lived the life of a nomad. One of the strange things about God's call of Abraham to the land of promise is that God never told him to build a city. Instead they lived in tents. Somebody may ask, "Why?" A tent is an easy thing to move, its portable. Dwelling in a tent would be characteristic of a pilgrim. His is ready to move on! Too many times you and I settle down to live in this world. I'm speaking of course in a spiritual sense. You and I ought to be ready to move on. We have no continuing city here. "A tent or a cottage why should I care, they're building a home for me over there." We sing about going home but do we really believe what we are singing?
The idea behind building no city but living in tents is that he had no intention of settling down. He was a pilgrim, a sojourner; one who is here a short time. All they need is what is necessary for the short stay. A pilgrim has no need to accumulate things. Those who are storing up materialism here are not pilgrims. A pilgrim wouldn't build a city; because he would have to leave it. He lives in a tent. I wonder is that your attitude? I am referring to our spiritual attitude as a pilgrim and not to our actual homes.
An illustration which is probably closer to us is that of a motor home. Some have their home on wheels. Spiritually speaking all of us ought to live in a motor home. I am of course speaking of an attitude. There are some people who God can't use, because they are not a pilgrim. They don't possess a pilgrim's attitude.
Abraham's destination was the city of God. Notice the 10th verse "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God. "Even when he got to Canaan he didn't settle down, because Canaan was not what he was really looking for. He was looking for the city of God. He was looking for a city whose builder and maker is God. I repeat his destination was the city of God. It ought to be ours. There are many who have little or no interest in the city of God. As I was preaching this message, I looked over my home congregation and could see some who were yawning and others about to go to steep. You know why? Because what I was preaching about that morning didn't interest them very much. Their interest was somewhere else and on something worldly. There are things that stir their interest, but not the subject of heaven. Not the city of God.
What about you dear reader? Does it stir anything in you? Do you have an intense interest in it? Or is your interest entirely worldly, material, and earthly? Brother, I want to tell you something. Too many, my friend, have little or no interest in the things of God, little or no interest in the city of God. There ought to be some excitement and anticipation in our journey to the city of God. May I ask, "What motivates you?" Is it a vision of the consummation of our journey? I'm on my way home. I'm going to God's home. God is my father therefore it's my home too. The anticipation and the excitement of my journey is that someday I will be in the immediate presence of Almighty God. I don't know about you, maybe you're not as emotional as I am and maybe you shouldn't be, but as I listen to songs of home and heaven I can't keep from praising God and shouting. Some day, rny friend, I'm going to cross over the river of death and go over into that land and country of eternity. I will not be taking a leap into the dark, but I will be going home.
I must continue our study. Too many, have little or no interest in this city of God. They manifest a satisfaction with this world and do not care to leave it. Their basic satisfaction is not an anticipation of dwelling in the city of God. Their basic satisfaction is worldly and earthly. They have few spiritual goals and there is not an earnest striving for spiritual maturity. They are basically satisfied with the material things which they have, or are wanting more. There is no definite eternal destination. They are merely drifting along through life, while a pilgrim is actively seeking the city of God.
Notice the 13th verse again, 'These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth."
Now notice the 14th verse, "For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country.”The expression, "for they that say such things", refers to those who "confess that they are strangers and pilgrims on the earth" they "declare plainly that they seek a country." The word translated "country” 'is translated in other versions as "homeland". They were seeking a "homeland". Someone may ask, "What do you mean?" This expression of seeking a homeland is the basic pilgrim disposition. That's the characteristic of a pilgrim. He is actively looking forward to going home. The place of our sojourning is not our home, just as Canaan was not the home of these Old Testament saints.
Notice the 15th verse, "And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned."'Somebody may ask, "What does that mean?" It means, they were not thinking of the home-land which they had left. They were not longing to go back. Abraham didn't long to go back, because if he had, he could have gone back. He had no thought of doing so.
Now in the 16th verse it reveals "they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly." Living for God in this time-world is wonderful but there is something even better than this. In that city of God we will be living in the immediate presence of God.
I once heard a recording of a message by Bud Robinson called "My Hospital Experience". He was crossing a street in Cincinnati, Ohio and wasn't paying too much attention. When he got out in the middle of the street a trolley car was coming one way and an automobile was coming the other. He had the choice of being run over by a trolley or by an automobile. Sometimes life's choices are tough; often we must choose the least of the two evils. He chose the automobile and was run over by it. They took him to the hospital and thought he was going to die, but he didn't. During his hospital stay, God by way of a vision took him beyond the veil of time. He described his experience as a vision in which two angels came for him and escorted him way out beyond the stars, to God's home. He told how they showed him around heaven. He said he wanted to stay there but the angels told him he couldn't stay. They told him here is where we are going to bring you at the end of life. He was almost ready to fight them to stay.
I want to tell you something, you give me 15 seconds in Heaven, and I would fight to keep from coming back here. That's the honest truth. Death is the curse of sin, and it does have its terror. But at the same time, there's a promise from God of eternal life.
I like the way Bud Robinson expressed heaven. He said, "God took me to His home". As I listened to that message I thought that's what it is. It's God's home! Since it's God's home it's mine too because I'm a child of God. As Christians we are children of God and heaven is our home. The Heavenly country is our only true home-land. Our true home-land cannot be found on this earth at all. There is a better country beyond this world, and that is called the Heavenly Country in this passage. The fact that these Old Testament saints still sought it, even when they were in the land of Canaan, demonstrates the truth that they never obtained it, because it cannot be found here on the earth. The saints’ homeland is in heaven.
Now, I said all that to say this: the Bible teaches us that as Christians, we are to spend our life on earth as strangers and pilgrims. Notice a few other passages.
I Peter 1:1 "Peter an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia." Peter addressed the church as "strangers". Again in I Peter 2:11 "Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from the fleshly lusts, which war against the soul."'Also Paul in Philippians 3:20 'for our conversation, (the word conversation means citizenship) our citizenship is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ."
As Christians we are "sojourners or pilgrims"' on the earth. Our earthly residence is only temporary. When we respond to the call of God, it puts us on a journey that will draw us away from this world. God's call puts us on a pilgrimage, (on a journey to our eternal and everlasting home). We live different. Peter warns us "to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul." We live according to the laws of our homeland; the laws of God.
The people of God are called to be a pilgrim people. I realize that this calling is too high of a standard for most folks. But brother, listen to me, it is absolutely true that we are called to be a pilgrim people; which means the opposite of accommodating our self to this world. I repeat that this is considered too high of a standard for most professing Christians today. Professing Christians do not possess a pilgrim's attitude which should distinguish them from the rest of the world. Too many times professing Christians are as materialistic in their attitude as the unbeliever. Their values and decisions are made in accordance to material, economical, and time-world values instead of being made in the light of being a pilgrim.
A pilgrim's attitude ought to distinguish us! It ought to distinguish us from the rest of the world. Someone may ask, "What do you mean by a secular and materialistic attitude?" It can be defined in various ways, one of which is: accommodation to this world, which results in losing the perspective that we are to be pilgrims. Possessing a pilgrim's attitude is so contrary to the values of the culture in which you and I live. All of us are tempted to seek and obtain the tokens and status symbols of our secular society. We are tempted to keep up with everybody else in material things. But we ought to be distinguished by the fact that we are actively seeking the city of God. Our attitudes, our values, our goals, our life-style and our motivation should be different from those around us. A secular materialistic attitude is accommodating ones self to this present world. To describe it further, it means becoming comfortable and complacent with our surroundings, which in turn has caused many to lose their perspective of being a pilgrim.
Let me ask you just a couple of personal questions. Number One: Do you display a pilgrim's disposition in your life? Is this attitude an easily recognizable attitude? Do you demonstrate that this world is not your home? Going a little further; do your possessions which you actually own display a pilgrim's attitude? Do the possessions which you are seeking to have display a pilgrim's attitude? A pilgrim of necessity must have few possessions because they are on a journey and they must travel light. You know what hinders most folks? It isn't something the devil has done to them but they have done it to themselves. They have filled their life with so many things, so many other interests and objects of pursuit that they haven't got time to pursue the city of God. They haven't got time to pursue spiritual goals and obtain them. A pilgrim o will have fewer possessions.
As pilgrims we are on a journey our home-land) and we can not afford to be bogged down, by things. We are strangers in this world. Not because we are unknown by our neighbors but because this is not our home. Home for now is wherever God wants me to be. But my ultimate home and the same is true of every child of God, is the city of God.
Now, materialism is this: a basic desire to accumulate possessions in this world. To those who possess the attitude of a pilgrim it is enough for them to have their needs met. That is the difference.
I heard someone say that a Christian could have whatever they could afford as long as it was not immoral but not if you're a pilgrim. No way! We have no right to buy things just because we can afford them. We must give an account to God how we spend our money. If you do not consider yourself under the authority of the Lordship of Jesus, then you may do whatever you want to. But if you consider yourself under the Lordship of Jesus, you can't spend your money nor buy anything without his approval. Somebody said, "I pay my tithes and therefore I can spend the nine-tenths as I please." No, that is not right. When you stand in judgment, you're not going to give an account for a dime out of every dollar; you're going to give an account for 100 pennies out of every dollar. It is proper for us to meet the needs of ourselves and our family. Those are not only legitimate needs but God commands us to do so. But, it is not scriptural to say we have a right to buy anything we can afford. That may go down a little hard, but that is the honest truth.
The attitude of a pilgrim is directly opposite to materialism. Materialism, I repeat, is the
basic desire to see how much we accumulate in this world. It is a grasping for more and more, a greed which is never satisfied, a craving that never has enough. Materialism leaves a man in bondage to the love of money, and very discontent. While the way that God would have us to live, brings freedom and contentment.
Here is a real test of your spirituality: not how many times you go to church; not how many minutes a day you spend in prayer nor how many chapters of the Bible you read every day, but what do you really long for? Are you actively seeking the city of God? Is that your basic motivation?
Let me ask you a few more questions. What do you really long for? If I would find you day-dreaming, what would you be day-dreaming about? What are you actually seeking for in life? Are you seeking accommodations to this world or are you seeking the city of God? The vision of his destination is what keeps a pilgrim going. Their eternal destination and the vision of the city of God is what provide them with motivation.
Some may honestly answer, "I don't know the answer to those questions, Brother Yoder." I have said that these questions are the real test of spirituality: What do we long for? What do we daydream about? What are we actively and actually seeking? Now, how can we discover the answer to these questions?
Let me help you. Our priorities will reveal the answers to these questions. Priorities are the things which you put first in your life. What you really long for and what you really seek for will of course be the priorities of your life. They are going to be the number one things in your life. See, friend, if the things of God are number one in your life it is because they are matters of first importance to you. You will find time for them by giving them priority over other things. A man's priorities are always a matter of what he is committed to. Another key to understanding what our heart is set on is: what things are urgent concerns? You show me an individual whose urgent concerns are worldly, material and secular and I will show you a person who constantly complains that they can't find time for prayer or to really serve the Lord. Why? There are other matters which they consider more urgent concerns in their life. Worldly matters seem more critical to them. But to a pilgrim their first priority is the city of God.
This isn't popular preaching, but it will reveal where your heart really is. Spiritual maturity is never automatic. It must always be cultivated. Spiritual maturity can only be developed where it is the priority of one's life. If it is not the priority of your life you will never develop deep spirituality because other things are more urgent, other things are of more value to you and they mean more to you which is why they are first to you.
Another question which will help you understand whether you possess a pilgrim's attitude or whether you are worldly is: What is real to you? If your attitude is secular or worldly it will reflect the element of being materialist. By that I mean, if something lacks physical existence then you will tend to dismiss its reality. That's one of the reasons why the things of God are not real to some people. They are worldly, secular or materialistic in spirit; therefore if they cannot grasp something in a tangible way it doesn't seem real.
It is faith which makes the things of God realities. The Bible defines faith in Hebrews 11:1 "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith gives reality to things that can't be seen. Faith translates the invisible into reality. If your spirit is worldly the things of God will seem as mere theories but not as reality.
If you are spiritual then your primary goal in this life will be to arrive at the city of God. The vision and goal of arriving at the city of God, is what makes us aware that we are a pilgrim. When my eyes are on that goal, it puts other things in proper perspective.
The freedom of a pilgrim is that he is free from the love of money. Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. "To paraphrase this verse, "let your manner of life be free from any greedy desire for the things of this world." To live without covetousness is demonstrated by "being content with such things that ye have."
A pilgrim by definition is committed to a life of fewer possessions. He is committed to a life of simplicity. That certainly sounds strange in our culture, but it is so true. By living such a life is the only way in which one can find deep contentment and satisfaction. A greedy grasping for more, and more, and more, and more, will produce a discontentment that will never be satisfied. I see many Christians failing to recognize or accept the fact that they are pilgrims. A true pilgrim is not motivated by a desire to accumulate all that he can. A true pilgrim does not have a grasping disposition. He will not spend his life seeking material tokens of social status.
A pilgrim has the assurance of God's presence as he makes his journey to the city of God. As we travel to the city of God we are encouraged by the fact that God is traveling with us. Our trust, confidence and reliance are upon God who is making the journey or pilgrimage with us. God said, "I will never leave thee or forsake thee, so that we can boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man can do unto me."
Can your family and friends easily recognize you as a pilgrim? One of the reasons the church has lost its influence is because even though we teach that the things of God will satisfy and that the things of the world are unsatisfying, we demonstrate that we cannot or will not be satisfied unless we have our full share of the world too. When an unbelieving world sees that we are as greedy as they are for material things then our testimony fails to convince them that the things of the world are unsatisfying and that only the things of God will bring real satisfaction and contentment. I believe it is time for God's people to check out their priorities.
Some may consider this message as being too hard, but it should not be so considered. Suppose I would take the opposite point of view and teach it is all right for you to follow the world, and to go after material things. I would be your worst enemy.
You may not have understood this lesson, but I am afraid that Heaven doesn't hold too much for most of us. I am afraid we are more attached to this world than what we are willing to admit. We will never achieve spiritual maturity until we change our basic attitudes. May God hasten the day when the thing that is most urgent in our life is our journey to the city of God. As long as worldly concerns are our priorities, we will continue to be carnal, worldly Christians.
Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Jesus said the whole world seeks after physical and material things as their first priority. He challenged us to be different, "But seek ye first the Kingdom of God.” Let that be your priority, and God will give these other things to you. Too few of us believe his promise or accept his challenge. When we set our heart to the pursuing of these things we become like our unsaved neighbors around us.
We possess the same basic worldly attitude. Our attending church and a few other things may be different but our basic attitude is the same. Let's overcome worldliness! Accept the challenge to be a pilgrim and set your heart on Heaven. "END"