Eternal Impermanence

“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” —Hebrews 13:14.

Consider how attached people become to their hometowns and places of residence. Many individuals are reluctant to leave the cities where they were born and have lived. This hesitation also extends to the idea of leaving this world for the next. However, there is a continual city that lasts forever, which is available to everyone, yet many choose not to embrace it.

For believers, the objective should be the pursuit of a continuing city, referred to as the heavenly city, which is eternal. The heavenly city contrasts with the earthly city of Jerusalem, which holds significant religious and cultural importance for Jewish people. Despite its greatness, any earthly city is temporary and will eventually pass away, along with its associated religion, rituals, ceremonies, and sacrifices. Therefore, believers are encouraged to focus on the heavenly city that is eternal and permanent, unlike earthly cities.

We should all be pursuing the hope of believers, our final dwelling place that contains a register of the saints, room for all believers, the glorified Christ entered into, built by the hand of God, and the redeemed of all nations assembled.

“For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one.” —Hebrews 11:14–16