The Shining, Eternal City
Come with me to the Shining, Eternal City — where the King’s glory fulfills every longing and the joy of Zion outshines even our holiest dreams.
Beautiful in elevation,
The joy of the whole earth,
Is Mount Zion on the sides of the north,
The city of the great King.
(Psalm 48:2)
There is a city. I shall go there one day. Even now, I see it in my best dreams. Its white stones gleam in a warm, welcoming light better than any earthly sunrise. Strength, safety, and beauty bless those whose home is there. Zion, the New Jerusalem, owns all of my hope. Here lives the King, the heart’s joy of His beloved people.
When I lie awake in the wee hours, I enjoy envisioning Zion. Yet I know the city will surpass every attempt I’ve made to think of its goodness. It will not be what I expect. But the difference will be positive: it will be better than I could have imagined. By my sin, I have damaged the imagination the Creator gave me. In its present condition, it cannot see a millionth part of the New Jerusalem’s grandeur. Yet the Father wants me to envision it, dream of it, yearn for it.
Zion and its King will be the consummate fulfillment of all our longings. Nothing we have ever rightly wanted will be missing from the King’s gifts to us in the eternal city. But what we have desired in this world is far too little. In that splendid city, we will find ourselves enjoying desires we did not even know we had. The joys of the Shining City will surpass anything we are able to desire here below.
Most of all, our desire for the King will be fulfilled. His complete glory will be ours to behold, glory we could not bear now, even if it were shown to us. In Zion, that entire glory will be our joy forever.
The King cannot and will not bring me to His city if I resist Him. My love must trust Him enough to obey Him. But He has promised to help those who try to follow the footprints of His Son, whom He sent into this world to show us what He is like. I want nothing more than to be like the Father whom the Son revealed. Made in His image, my heart sings in hope, knowing that when the perfection of His image is restored in me and made firm, I shall be mended and whole. Overcome, my earthly failures will make my heavenly voice of gratitude unique in the countless chorus of His saints. My feet shall walk the pavements of that shining, eternal city. Never shall I tire of dwelling there. The King will be an ever-unfolding adventure.
“O Lord, grant that we may rejoice to see the bliss of your Jerusalem” (Mozarabic Liturgy).
Gary Henry - WordPoints.com