A Better Country

Thought: "Worldly riches are like nuts; many a tooth is broke in cracking them, but never is the stomach filled with eating them." Rabbi Nachman

Bible text: "And I heard a loud voice from the throne (heaven) saying, 'Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.'" Revelation 21:3,4

The Bible tells the story of two wealthy ranchers who lived long ago in the Middle East. Abram and his nephew, Lot, drifted from place to place, looking for a good spot to settle down. By the time they reached the plain of Jordan, they had a problem. “But the land couldn’t support both of them; they had too many possessions...Abram said to Lot...Look around. Isn’t there plenty of land out there? Let’s separate. If you go left, I’ll go right; if you go right, I’ll go left” (Genesis 13:6,8,9 The Message).

This was a fair proposal. It showed Abram’s unselfishness. He was getting to be an old man. Lot should have given Abram first choice. But he didn’t. When he saw the entire well-watered plain of Jordan spread out before him, he got greedy. He chose the whole thing. The Bible says, “He pitched his tent near Sodom” (verse 12). Bad choice. Sodom was the worst place he could have chosen to raise a family. It was notorious for its crime and immorality. The Bible says there were not even ten decent people living there. Later on, when Sodom was finally destroyed, Lot’s wife and most of his family died, along with everyone else there. Lot barely escaped with two of his daughters.

Better than what we see

Abram chose a different city, “...the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God” (Hebrews 11:10 NASB). Abram's eyes were focused, not on this world’s fame and fortune, but on things of eternal value. No wonder his name is listed among the great in God’s hall of fame in Hebrews 11. The Bible tells about the faithful, “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" (Hebrews 11:16 NLT).

God has a place in his heavenly home for you, and anyone else who really wants to live there. The Bible calls it a “better country.” Better than any place on earth. Are you looking for that city?

from www.e-gracenotes.com