Hebrews 13:14

Hebrews 13:14

An Ever-changing Scene.

These words sum up what was certainly the Apostolic mind as to the position of Christians in this world. They were members of a vast, and powerful, and complex association which we call human society; but, with all its great attributes, it wanted one it wanted permanence. The world passes away, is passing away, as we work and speak. But though here we have no continuing city, yet we do seek one to come. Born amid change, surrounded by change in every form, knowing nothing by experience but change, the subject and the sport of change, the human heart yet obstinately clings to its longing for the unchanging and the eternal. Christian souls, thought the Apostle, not only long for it, but look for it. We seek that which is to come seek it by believing that we shall one day reach it.

I. "Here have we no continuing city." We are all of us under the unalterable necessity of change in one way or other. It is the absolute condition of existing now and here. The fact may affect or impress us in many ways; it may darken or it may brighten life; it may depress or discourage, or it may inspire with undying hope. We may find in it the highest summons to courage, or the excuse for the most enervating sentimentalism. The idea of the sovereignty of God is the counterpart throughout the Psalms set over against all that is unsatisfying, disastrous, transitory, untrustworthy, not only in man's condition, but in the best that he can do. The Psalms are always the expression of the will to fulfil God's purpose, though very often of that will baffled; but they always fall back when the will is baffled, not on despair, but on the conviction that men's lives are in the hand of God.

II. The Psalmists cast themselves into the arms of God, and they were blessed. Oh that we could catch something of the contagion of that faith and hope as day by day we repeat again their wonderful words! Search as we will, we can find nothing to rest upon, nothing that will endure the real trial, but the faith of the Psalmists in the eternal kingdom of God, the faith of the Psalmists lit up by the grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ, the faith of men who are not afraid to meet their real circumstances, who are not afraid to trust in longing and self-surrender.

R. W. Church, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxviii., p. 369.

References: Hebrews 13:14. H. W. Beecher, Plymouth Pulpit,10th series, p. 337; Ibid., Christian World Pulpit,vol. iv., p. 83; S. Martin, Sermons,p. 77; Clergyman's Magazine,vol. viii., p. 88; E. Blencowe, Plain Sermons to a Country Congregation,vol. ii., p. 473; Homilist,1st series, vol. v., p. 101.Hebrews 13:15. Clergyman's Magazine,vol. iii., p. 89. Hebrews 13:16. G. G. Bradley, Christian World Pulpit,vol. xxxiv., p. 337; Preacher's Monthly,vol. iv., p. 189. Hebrews 13:17. Ibid.,vol. i., p. 11; R. D. B. Rawnsley, Village Sermons,1st series, p. 211; E. Cooper, Practical Sermons,vol. ii., p. 256.