When a person is trying to move forward in their life it is important that they let the past remain in the past. It is impossible to look forward and backward at the same time. When we become Christians, we must leave it all behind, the sinful habits, and the places where we committed sinful acts. The friends who were part of our sinful lifestyle must be witnessed to and prayed for, but they can no longer be our confidant. We now have a new life, a new way of thinking, new desires, a new home, and a new family. These are things which they know nothing about. Everything we gain is good and we must leave behind anything that will hamper our growth as a Christian.
In Hebrews 13:13-14 the writer is speaking to Jews who have become Christians. They were accustomed to the traditions and laws that were part of the Old Covenant. They were taught to keep many manmade traditions that would hamper their walk with Jesus as their Savior. The phrase “no continuing city” refers to Jerusalem and all the religious people and actions associated with it. No longer would their religion be based on the law, the temple, or the sacrifices of the past. All of those things were to point to Jesus, but they were earthly and temporary. The things of the past no longer defined who they were and where they were going. They were now to look for a city whose builder and maker is God. As is taught in verse 13 they were to go outside the camp. They were to identify with Christ who was led away as men scoffed and reviled him as He was put to death for their sins. After Jesus’ death, they no longer needed a High Priest to enter the Holy of Holies to represent them to God. In Acts 7:48-49 the Most High God dwells in Heaven. A place made by God’s own hands. The earth is His footstool, a place where you rest your feet. This is symbolic of how lowly and humble an object the earth is when it is compared with God.
Hebrews 13:13-14 “Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach. For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.”
Acts 7:48-49 “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me? saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest?”
We must become eternally focused. Looking and longing to please the one who has granted us eternal life through His Son Jesus. We can’t get attached to the things of this world. What God has given us are tools to be used for His glory. Whatever home you have is to be used to serve others, your family, your church, those who need to know Christ, missionaries needing a place to stay as they travel from church to church, and anyone God lays on your heart to minister to. Abraham lived in tents as a nomad but served God faithfully wherever he was. In Hebrews 11:10 he was looking for a city, but it was not an earthly one it was Heaven.
Hebrews 11:9-10 “By faith he sojourned in the land of promise, as in a strange country, dwelling in tabernacles with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise: For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
We need to be looking for a city just as Abraham did. In II Corinthians 5:1 we see the truth of the future. We will one day die, and our bodies will be transformed, and our earthly bodies will go back to dust. The homes we have lived in will decay and be destroyed. Nothing on earth lasts forever. However, we have a home not made with hands in the heavens. It is made by God and prepared for us, and it is eternal.
II Corinthians 5:1 “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.”
So, what is keeping you from giving God your full attention? Are you looking back at the things of this world and longing to hold on to them? As New Testament Christians we are to go outside the camp and not be consumed by the things of this world. Don’t allow the blessings to consume you, use them for His glory and be ready to leave them all behind.
