WHERE WE HAVE COME

'For you have not come to a mountain that may be touched and to a blazing fire, and to darkness and gloom and whirlwind, and to the blast of a trumpet and the sound of words which sound was such that those who heard begged that no further word should be spoken to them. For they could not bear the command, "If even a beast touches the mountain, it will be stoned." And so terrible was the sight, that Moses said, "I am full of fear and trembling." But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels, to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to th esprinkled blood, which speaks better than the blood of Abel" (Hebrews 12:18-24, NASB )

Devotion 5 of 13 THE CITY OF THE LIVING GOD

We "ARE come" to a populous place, where heavenly commerce takes place. This is none other than the residence of God Almighty; where He is found and accessed. It is not a city of lifeless religion, but of the "living God!" This is a place of gladness, refreshed by rivers of living water. 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" (Psa 46:4). When holy men speak of this city, they speak marvelous things. "Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah" (Psa 87:3). The cities of this world are wicked. More often than not, they are "Satan's seat" (Rev 2:13), where he dominates and disseminates wickedness. Such cities are gathering points for evil people, and scattering points for wicked trends. But this is not so with the "city of the Living God." The dominant consideration in the city to which we are come is God Himself. Our faith has brought us to Him and enabled us to please Him (Heb 11:6). This is the "city" God has prepared for those who confess they are strangers and pilgrims in the world (Heb 11:13). It is a place where God is "not ashamed to be called their God" (Heb 11:13). In fact, He has prepared this city exclusively for those who have come away from the course of this world. Now, we occupy "the city of the living God" by faith. However, we are destined to finally dwell there in all fulness, for it has been "prepared" for us! Faith has already brought us to its borders, and it will soon usher us into its fulness! "The city of the living God" is the place directly occupied by Deity. It is the place where He is pleased to dwell! He finds delight in this city because His people are there. In Christ they are "builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit" (Eph 2:22). Those in Christ are nothing less than "the temple of God." Scripture says of the church in the aggregate, "Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are" (1 Cor 3:16-17). This is the city to which we "ARE come!" PRAYER POINT: Father, how blessed it is to have access to You. I thank You for the precious Lord Jesus, through Whom I have come where You reside. How I long to linger in this sacred place. I praise you for promising if I overcome, I will fully enter into this blessed city, and "go no more out." Receive my thanksgiving in Jesus' name.

--TOMORROW: THE HEAVENLY JERUSALEM --