That City

10.14.11

Nehemiah 11.1-2 1 Now the leaders of the people settled in Jerusalem. The rest of the people cast lots to bring one out of every ten of them to live in Jerusalem, the holy city, while the remaining nine were to stay in their own towns. 2 The people commended all who volunteered to live in Jerusalem. NIV

If you think about it, this was a huge decision: moving from the country into the city. These people were mostly agricultural folk who made their living off the land. They farmed, they raised livestock. So to make a move into the city meant losing something of tremendous value. Were there fields in the city? Were there herds of livestock? It was really a huge decision to give up rural living. What did you do to live, public works!?

I thought about that city and what it meant for those people who were inhabiting the newly restored Jerusalem. You could have a house, you could plant a garden but you couldn’t compete with your countrified neighbors because they had the advantage of land whereas you didn’t.

And then I thought about another Jerusalem that waits in store for us: the New Jerusalem. Nobody will want to be outside that Jerusalem. Nobody then will care about fields, lands, cattle, sheep and goats. Inside the New City will be the presence of God and all will want that; and everybody will want to be there.

Peter in his sermon in Acts 3 made this statement: “Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets.” (v. 21). You see, God is going to restore everything; it all will return to the majestic and perfect way it was originally intended to be. Everything will be made new. That includes Jerusalem and that includes you and me.

The purpose and intent of that New City then will be different than what we think it is today. But one thing is for sure, the residents of the New Jerusalem will be restored and their original purpose and intent will be vastly different than what we think is important today.

Nehemiah is a picture of a restored city, a restored land, and a restored people. Nehemiah is a picture of the promise of what is soon coming for all of God’s true people. And Peter also said, “By faith in the name of Jesus, this man whom you see and know was made strong. It is Jesus’ name and the faith that comes through him that has completely healed him, as you can all see.” (Acts 3.16 NIV). The beggar was healed and restored into another life through Jesus’ Name, and by faith in Him. That same Name and faith is what beckons us to the New Jerusalem: the Name of the Lord will be there and unshakable trust in Him will be there!