Rebecca and I have commented several times lately on how we can feel the fall. The effects of sin are all around us. Stories of sickness, disease, unmet hopes, unrealized dreams, and disharmonious relationships have been around every corner. This world is broken. Our relationships, our bodies, our hopes and dreams. It is all broken.
The gospel promises a day where all the wrongs will be made right. Jesus died not only to redeem his people, but to redeem his creation. There is an appointed time when the brokenness will no longer be a part of the story. This song is one of my favorites that point to the coming kingdom and reminds me this world isn't the end of the story.
No Abiding City by Sandra McCracken
Oh, sweet home of love and peace
Where pilgrims tired and troubled rest
Into the hope of Zion lean
Where in Jesus’ arms we will fall at last
Oh, lift up your head
For the day is near
And we have no abiding city here
Addictions empty promises
This broken world cannot satisfy
A sweeter song redemptions bliss
Is sealed for us in paradise
Oh, lift up your head
For the day is near
And we have no abiding city here
Sprit heal our neighborhood
Until your kingdom work is done
Teach us what is just and good
As we look for the city which is yet to come
Oh, lift up your head
For the day is near
And we have no abiding city here
A city filled with and light
God the builder and the architect
When our faith is turned to sight
Oh, I cannot imagine it
Oh, lift up your head
For the day is near
And we have no abiding city here
6 comments:
I just read Part One and already learned something I didn't understand. I didn't know that "Reformed was the same as "Calvinism."
And all God's people said "Amen"
I really needed to hear that this week. Thank You.
Katie
My comment was intended for the post on election -- in case anyone was scratching their head.
There is something I want to add to this thread in the hope that it may help someone else who is standing in a difficult place. I have lived long enough to stand in many difficult places. God has taught me how to trust Him through those times. And I have found that no matter what comes, He will always get me through it if I'll depend upon Him and TRUST Him.
Hard places come upon us for many reasons. Sometimes they are self-inflicted. Other times, it's just the fallen world we live in, as this song describes. But we are given the promise that all things work together for our good if we love Him and are called according to His purpose.
I have stood in more hard places than some people and less than others. We don't all have the exact same blessings and we don't have the exact same hard places. But in every hard place, I have clung to the promise that God is using everything -- including the hard places -- for my good.
All that to say this. It is so tempting to put our hope in a certain outcome and pray for specific events to take place. But if my specific requests had always been answered, I would have missed out on some of the biggest blessings God had for me. God knew best. I did not.
Just now as I was washing down my patio and contemplating today's hard place, I found myself pinning my hopes on a specific outcome. And I felt like God spoke to my heart and said, "Do not put your hope in a specific outcome. Put your hope in ME and in my promise that all things, including this, are for your good."
I know I still have many struggles ahead of me. God will have to remind me of this again because I am weak. But His strength is made perfect in my weakness and nothing can separate me from His love.
I wanted to share this in the hope that someone else reading what God is speaking to me will hear His voice today, too.
There are hurting people all around us, all the time. Whatever place we find ourselves walking in, others have walked in it or will walk in it. It's so easy not to be tuned in because we're so focused on whatever our own particular situation is at that moment. One of my present prayers is that I will be more focused on the pain of others than on my own fears. I can't tell you I am a shining example of that today. But I know that would not even be my heart's desire without the Holy Spirit being present and at work in my heart.
Hi...just stumbled across your blog through a search for the lyrics to No Abiding City. You might enjoy watching this youtube video I created featuring this song along with the artwork of Christian artist, Carol Bomer. Carol's work has been featured on the cover of Christianity Today and numerous other places. The video is located at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ek76m49PrsU
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