The Heavenly City

Hebrews 11: 13-16

All these faithful ones died without receiving what God had promised them, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed the promises of God. They agreed that they were no more than foreigners and nomads here on Earth. And obviously people who talk like that are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had meant the country they came from they would have found a way to go back. But they were looking for a better place, a Heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a Heavenly city for them.

This chapter is called God's Hall of Fame, all the earlier saints who put their trust in God in spite of horrendous circumstances. They were looking forward to the Sacrifice that would take their sins away, as we can now look back at the Sacrifice of the Lamb of God, that actually takes away all our sins. 

As they each put their hand on their lamb, to be sacrificed on the altar in their place in death, and the blood splashed on the sides of the altar to cover their sins; when Jesus died, His Blood splashed the sides of His altar, the Cross, and all these Old Testament saints' covered sins were washed away, and they could now enter Heaven, from the Paradise side of Sheol where they had been waiting. And we can now enter Heaven directly, Jesus being our personal Lamb that takes our place in death. 

All these Old Testament saints believed God, and believed what God said. They put their full trust in Him. Even though they didn't receive what was promised in their lifetimes, they still trusted God to do what He said He would, and He will. 

God knew that they could not have been complete without us with them, and He has prepared a City that will come down from Heaven to this Earth, made new. And we will all live and reign with Him in that wonderful, glorious City that He is even now preparing a place for us in. 

Even so, come, Lord Jesus!