He Opens The Way Into The City Of God

He Opens the Way into the City of God

After Cain killed his brother, God banished Cain from the land and sent him out to be a homeless wanderer on the earth. “Cain left the LORD’s presence and settled in the land of Nod, east of Eden. . . . Then Cain founded a city, which he named Enoch, after his son” (Genesis 4:16-17). Cain sought to satisfy his need for belonging and significance by building a city—his own world, a mechanism for living successfully on his own terms, separated from God.

But the future of humanity was not limited to the descendants of Cain living in the city of man, apart from God. “Adam had sexual relations with his wife again, and she gave birth to another son. She named him Seth. . . . When Seth grew up, he had a son and named him Enosh. At that time people first began to worship the LORD by name” (Genesis 4:25-26).

Even today there is the city of man—the people of this present age who consider themselves too good for God, too self-sufficient to need him. There is also another group of people, another city. This city wasn’t built by people, and it can’t be destroyed by people. It’s the city of God. And while the city of man is passing away, the city of God will last forever.

Seth’s greatest offspring, Jesus, faced temptations regarding the city of man. As Jesus fasted and prayed in the wilderness for forty days, “the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ‘I will give it all to you,’ he said, ‘if you will kneel down and worship me.’”

But Jesus saw the city of man for what it is. “‘Get out of here, Satan,’ Jesus told him. ‘For the Scriptures say, “You must worship the LORD your God and serve only him”’” (Matthew 4:8-10).

Perhaps Jesus could hear the echo of the cry of the angels, “Babylon is fallen—that great city is fallen!” (Revelation 18:2). He knew that day was coming. Perhaps he could smell in his nostrils “the smoke from that city” when it will be utterly destroyed (Revelation 19:3). But certainly he saw in his mind’s eye “the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven” (Revelation 21:2).

I want to live forever in the city of God with you, Jesus. The city of man is enticing but empty. It makes promises it can’t keep. But the city of God satisfies; it keeps its promises. Throw open the gates of your great city to me, Jesus, so I may enter in with everlasting joy.