A Vision of Perfection

Dear Faith Family,   

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. For by it the people of old recieved their commendation."
(Hebrews 11:1-2) 


The story of faith from which our faith springs is full of heros and heroines. Men and women who overcame and were overcome, both, with the sure hope that a life lived or given up in pursuit of something better was indeed a commendable--God affirmed as good--life. Their stories, remembered with beautiful brevity in Hebrews 11, not only remind us of the heritage into which we are reborn, but also exhort us to take up the story and keep going within something better. 

In fact, that's precisely how the story of the past ends, with an exhortation that the story of faith is not complete, instead, it will not reach its perfection--its telos, purpose, or maturation--unless we join in. 

"And all these, though commended through their faith, did not recieve what was promised, since God had provided something better for us, that apart from us they should not be made perfect."
(Hebrews 11:39-40) 


So, what is that "something better" that our faith's foreparents lived towards but through us is now being realized? The image the author of Hebrews give us might not be what we expect, at least not intially. While affirming the fundamental desire for "a better country, that is, a heavenly one" (11:16a), the author of Hebrews draws a more concrete picture for the perfection of faith:

"Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city." (Hebrews 11:16b) 



The vision of a city may not be that striking to you and me, espcially as inhabitants of vast cities. But, the image has a long history in our faith, especially the idea of a city in "whose designer and builder is God" (11:9). The city of God, infact, inspired the Son's of Korah to pen a hymn which we still have today in the form of Psalm 87: 

"On the holy mount stands the city he founded; the Lord loves the gates of Zion more than all the dwelling places of Jacob. Glorious things of you are spoken, O city of God. Among those who know me I mention Rahab and Babylon; behold, Philistia and Tyre, with Cush— 'This one was born there,' they say. And of Zion it shall be said, 'This one and that one were born in her'; for the Most High himself will establish her. The Lord records as he registers the peoples, 'This one was born there.' Singers and dancers alike say, 'All my springs are in you.'" 



As I am sure you picked up one, the vision of God's city is beautifully complex. This city is known not for its walls, but its gates, a rare distinction in those days. And, it is a city in which the cities of God's enemies (Babylon, Philistia, etc.), are reborn!

It's within this wonderously profound image that the author of Hebrews invites us to consider the perfection (telos or goal) of our faith's story in which we play a consequential role. A vision, as we discussed on Sunday, of the city of God not merely as a place but a people: "You are the light of the world. A city ...” (Matthew 5:14).

To enter into this vision of the city of God, and so into our place within the story of faith pefercted, let's do what we've been doing: consider our lives with Jesus Ascended*. 


May we see in Jesus Ascended*, our life as "a spring" of life our city. 

Love you, faith family. God bless!