God's folks have never been city folks, at least not yet.

Country folks.  City folks.  In-between Suburban Folks.  You may celebrate the title of this blog, cast it away as baseless or look askance at it with squinted eyes.  Why would I make such a statement?  Genesis, the book of beginnings, holds the key to my thoughts in response.  But Hebrews and Revelation complete those thoughts.

Depending on which translation of the Bible you use, you find the word city between 700 and 860 times in Scripture, as early as Genesis 4.17 and as late as Revelation 22.19.  Throughout history until now, the hearts of younger generations becoming adults have tended toward moving to the city where more opportunity, more exposure, more entertainment, more…. Well… just more.

In Genesis 4.17, we read about the first city mentioned in Scripture, perhaps the first city of all.  God responded to Cain’s murderous sin against his brother, Abel.  In punishment, He declared that Cain would be a vagabond and wanderer all his life.  In grace, He promised the protection of Divine intervention to any who sought revenge upon Cain (4.12-15). In their conversation Cain acknowledged that he would be a wanderer all his life and that his curse of agricultural calamity would be too much to bear.  It wasn’t long until he got over the severity of his sin.  He would not be a wanderer, living out his life under God’s decree.  He would build a city, a city in which the inhabitants – largely his family at first – would be more kindly toward him than strangers.  He found his safety not in God’s promised protection but in the political affiliations which his new community allowed.  He and his kin were the first of whom we could say took up the philosophy you go along to get along.  From his loins came ranchers (4.20), musicians (4.21) and metalworkers (4.22).  Notably, also from his loins came the first polygamist who flaunted his own murderous sin in light of Cain spurning the grace God had given him (4.19, 23-24).

Two other notable cities emerge in Genesis.  Civilization had progressed to include brick-making.  What better thing to do than to congregate on the plains of Shinar and extend their city to the heavens with a tower?  This experiment didn’t last long.  Their going along in this magnanimous enterprise did not result in much getting along.  Soon Babel was in ruins (Gen 11.1-9).

But then in Genesis 13 Lot was mesmerized by another city, Sodom.  He left his wandering Uncle Abraham to dwell in tents and roam with flocks.  Lot found a house in the city (19.1-3).  God told Abraham there was much sin in the city (18.20).  From the immoral reception given to God’s angels who visited there, we find there was much sex in the city.  In this instance it was the immoral, illicit and unnatural sin of homosexuality which reared its ugly head (19.5-11).  Lot had gone along to get along until he lost everything and became a drunken, incestuous old man (19.35-38).  Thus far, the cities of the Bible have earned a poor reputation.  Fast forward about a few millenia.

It’s at this point of that God, who in these last days has spoken to us by His Son (Heb 1.1), tells us the difference between Abraham and Lot.  It boils down to the matter of faith versus a city. 

“[Abraham wandered and dwelled] in tents…for he was looking for a city with foundations whose builder and maker is God.”  (Heb 11.9-10).  Later, the writer of Hebrews reminds all believers that in this world we are to be like Abraham: “There is no lasting city here below, we are seeking one to come” (Heb 13.14).  And if there is any doubt, that city is found in the book of Revelation:  “Blessed are those who keep His commandments – they have the right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates of the city.” (Rev 22.14).

It is easy in this life for eyes of faith to become clouded with cataracts of sin as did Lot’s eyes.  But by faith, we are to persevere knowing that our destination is not of this world.  Anything that pulls us off the journey becomes sin in that it is not of faith (Rom 14.23).  There is so much in the cities of our world that beckons the believer to turn aside. 

Do not be mistaken.  It is easy to live an ungodly life in the country.  It is possible to live a godly life in the city.  Neither determines the destination of the soul.  But God’s folks do not have a city here below.  It is the “not yet” for which we long, to which we look.  We're not city folks in the truest sense of the word today.

One day we will be.