November 18

He led them on a straight path to reach a city where they could live. — Ps 107:7 BSB

“He led them forth.” Out of the world, out of sin, out of mere profession, out of having a name to live, and out of everything hateful to His holy and pure eyes.

“To go to a city of habitation.” Here on earth, they had no lasting city, but they were journeying to a heavenly city, whose walls are salvation and whose gates are praise. There, eternal realities await the soul—something stable, eternal, and satisfying for the vast needs of the immortal spirit. It is a place of rest that could never be found while wandering here below. If we have a city here on earth, we desire no city above. But if we desire the city above, we will not long for one here.

This must be our condition: either we are pilgrims, journeying through troubles toward heavenly things, or we are setting up our abode below; either seeking heaven on earth or seeking heaven in the hereafter; resting in the world or resting in the Lord; longing for the things of time or longing for the things of eternity; content in self or content only in Christ. One of these two must be our state. May the Lord make it clear to His people that they are on His side. And may He give us to know and feel that our very restlessness and inability to find food or shelter in the things of this world are pushing us to seek earnestly after the things that have true value. As we find no city here below, may we press forward, manifestly enjoying the testimonies of being citizens of that city above, “whose foundations are laid by God Himself.”