Hebrews 13:14-15, “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.”
We have been studying Revelation in our Small Group these past few months. It has been a good reminder of this very verse in Hebrews 13:14, “For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.” The LSB version says, “For here we have no continuing city, but we seek the one to come.” When I read various news updates on our economy, political disagreements, the recent Russian prisoner swap, the stock market, etc., I must remind myself that this world is not my permanent address. It is temporary. Heaven is my destination and future eternal address that is to come. Philippians 3:20 states, “But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Revelation 21:21b states, “the great street of the city was of pure gold, like transparent glass.” John describes in this chapter a city, the New Jerusalem (Rev. 21:1-2), that will have a street of pure gold, and the entire city will be made of gold that has been refined, unlike what we have seen before. Jon Courson’s Application Commentary has a point, “So highly valued is gold on earth that throughout history, man has lived by the golden rule: He who has gold rules. Such is not the case in heaven, where gold is used as casually as asphalt.” I like that.
Therefore, as Hebrews 13:15 declares, we are to give praise to God “continually.” The Greek word here is dia pantos, meaning always – constant. Praising God may not always be convenient. But it is a sacrifice that pleases Him. Often songs of praise speak to my soul and mind deeply that I can sing from my heart. David did that throughout the book of Psalms. For example, Psalm 32 is a gathering and a dialogue between choirs, each singing a different section. The last two verses crescendo: “Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts the LORD. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!”
Offer a sacrifice of praise to God when you get up in the morning. Then pause during your lunch break (I know many of us work through our lunch) and praise God. Then as your business day winds down, praise God for being present throughout your day and then again before you go to sleep at night. Tony Evans’s book, Praying Through The Names Of God is a great help in this area, in praying God’s name and giving Him praise. Here are a few examples from his book to illustrate with verses:
- Pelah Yo’Etz – Wonderful Counselor – Your wisdom gives life. Isaiah 9:6
- Immanuel – God with us – Isaiah 7:14
- Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh – The eternal all-sufficient God. Exodus 3:14
- Jehovah Chereb – The Lord, the sword. You are my shield. Deuteronomy 33:29
- Jehovah Maginnenu – The Lord our defense. Ready to stand in defense. Psalm 89:18.
- Jehovah El Emeth – Lord God of truth and is the presence and essence of truth. Psalm 31:5.
- Jehovah Elohim Yeshua – Lord God of my salvation. You rescue those in need and bind up the brokenhearted. Psalm 88:1.
- Elohei Mikkarov – God who is near. I am not to be dismayed. Where I am, you are. Jeremiah 23:23.
- Elohim Chasdi – God of lovingkindness. Compassionate and gracious and slow to anger and abounding in love. Psalm 59:17.
- Jehovah Hashopet – The Lord, the judge. Offended by evil and wholly devoted to justice. Judges 11:27.
Experience God’s counsel and wisdom. Acknowledge God is with you. Trust in God’s sufficiency. Depend on God’s shield of protection and who is ready to defend you. Have peace in knowing the Lord God of truth who will rescue you in times of need and heal your broken heart. Bask in God’s presence and be free of discouragement because God is near. The lovingkindness of God is like no other. Lastly, take comfort in knowing the Lord is offended by evil and the ultimate judge. Give Him your continual sacrifice of praise! We, as born-again Christians, reside in a temporary address. Your current problems really are temporary, although unpleasant. Better days are ahead. Seek the one to come. Praise God!
Listen to Shane and Shane Psalm 145 lyric video, August 13, 2020.