The City of God

A pilgrim crossed a great and desolate wasteland
seeking refuge in a city whose builder and maker is God.
His God had called him to seek such
putting in his heart a hunger for that
which was the "Perfection of Beauty"
and the "Joy of the whole earth".

As he sojourned across the great waste
he cried and prayed continually,
"O Lord I must decrease and you must increase.
I forsake all those things of the world
and those lusts of the flesh and of the mind
that I used to take pleasure in
when I once lived in them.”

“Keep me as the apple of your eye, O my God,
for I know that with you is life and truth
and at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.
Only let me be pleasing to you
and grant me entrance to your everlasting kingdom."

And this went on and on, such crying out to the Lord;
even great searching of heart and humbling himself before God.
For he travelled far and many temptations sought to waylay this pilgrim
from the goal of his journey that was before him.

But there came a time when, in much weariness, the pilgrim stopped
and sought to refresh himself and gather strength to continue on.
When off in the distance he spied a glimmering dome of translucent light.
Yes, it shimmered off in the distance
such that he thought it might be a dream or a mirage.
It came at a time when he wasn't expecting it
and in a way that he looked not for.

So he rose and headed towards this apparition
that had so mysteriously appeared before his face.
And as he approached that wondrous sight there appeared a man
dressed in white linen which cried out to him

'Hail Pilgrim, what is it you seek?"

To this salutation our pilgrim
and seeker of the celestial city answered,

"Sir, I have seen this pure and translucent shimmering from a way off
and I thought that it might be that city that I have heard tell
is clear as crystal and hard to be seen or found.
The Lord of the city had bid me
come and charged me that if I were willing and obedient
I might be granted entrance to this great and noble place."

The man in linen responded,

" Indeed this is that place you seek.
It is that very place whereof the Lord spoke,
‘I go to prepare a place for you.’
Behold this is the door and I am the gate keeper."

He held out his hand as to direct our pilgrim's gaze
and there appeared before him an entrance
and he was enabled to gaze in and see many of those
who had entered the gate already.

"Allow me O gate keeper one query now, for I am somewhat confused.
I see many who have entered in and are on the other side of the door
But there is none that is above the age and stature of a little child.
Are there no adults here?"

"You have seen well, said the gatekeeper.
Have you not heard the requirements of the Lord
that ‘except you become as little children’
you shall in no wise enter in to the things
God has prepared for his own."

"Ahh! now I see and I understand well," said the pilgrim.

“Indeed you do," said the man before the door,
"for you have been humbling your heart all this way
cross the great and howling wilderness
as you have travelled far and sought this city of refuge.”


“And now, you too, as you enter
will find yourself decreasing even more
that it might be fulfilled
even according to the word of the Lord.”


“One last question”, said the pilgrim,” If I may?”

“Say on.” answered the heavenly porter.

“I see that there are few who enter and abide there.
Why is it that in such a city of quiet habitation and secure
and wherein dwells no unrighteousness
and where no wicked nor unclean can enter are there not people very many?
You'd think that the line would be long to get in to such a place.”

To which the man in linen answered him,

“Truly, many are called but few are chosen.
Many even feel so desperate as you to venture the great wilderness
seeking refuge but alas they pass by the city,
not seeing it where it stands.

For it is clear as crystal. Like transparent glass, you see.
And only you could see because you have humbled your heart
and sought to obey in all things.

And there are many that perish in the wilderness
and are not able to enter in because of their unbelief.

And there are those that think the city is some future reality
to enter in to in some other dispensation so that they do not even
believe to enter into something so glorious in this lifetime.

But to you it is given to know the mystery of the city of God
and precious eyesalve is provided to the those
who believe and doubt not and who persevere
through great weakness and inherent sin-
ever humbling themselves and acknowledging their transgression.

Yes even now this bride in the earth prepares herself for that great day."

And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem,
coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride
adorned for her husband.
Revelation 21.2