Reflections On My Recent Travels
Seeing other parts of the world is a wonderful experience. It seems like all your senses are engaged and heightened as you take in the various sights, sounds, and smells of a new place and culture. I recently traveled to Miami, Florida and Cali, Colombia (pictured above). The two places were similar and yet very different. Miami is beautiful–it's a sprawling metropolis with a sub-tropical climate filled with people from various countries and continents. But this beauty is soaked in decadence and materialism.
Cali was also beautiful. It's a city nestled in a valley with mountains easily in view. The food is terrific and its citizens were kind. But its beauty is matched by its poverty. The people, despite not having much in terms of wealth, seemed very content to me, and this was particularly striking. Living in the U.S., which is likely the most prosperous nation on the planet, I see and have seen poverty, but it's of a different sort, at least comparatively. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the poor in America appear different than the poor of other countries.
I am not going to get into the particulars of poverty, but it was simply an interesting contrast to note. What I do want to leave you with, and this is what has consumed my reflections over the last few days, is the realization that we need a new and better home, city, and country. As I read through the passage I'll be preaching this coming Sunday, Revelation 21:1-8, it made me long for that Holy City–the New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from God (Rev. 21:2). That is a city where decadence and poverty are laid to rest, never to rise again.
It's a city where no mourning will be present because all tears will be wiped away. It's a city where death is no more and pain no more because the former things would have passed away (Rev. 21:4). It's a city where we will behold the One seated on the throne and Lamb who sits at his right hand. I long for that place. But this is not some kind of escapist longing, it is, as far as I know, a holy one. I long for the city that is to come because Christ is there–he is the true prize and treasure of the new heavens and earth. He is the reward. He is where all longing is satisfied.
Come, Lord Jesus. Make my faith sight.
Cali was also beautiful. It's a city nestled in a valley with mountains easily in view. The food is terrific and its citizens were kind. But its beauty is matched by its poverty. The people, despite not having much in terms of wealth, seemed very content to me, and this was particularly striking. Living in the U.S., which is likely the most prosperous nation on the planet, I see and have seen poverty, but it's of a different sort, at least comparatively. I can't quite put my finger on it, but the poor in America appear different than the poor of other countries.
I am not going to get into the particulars of poverty, but it was simply an interesting contrast to note. What I do want to leave you with, and this is what has consumed my reflections over the last few days, is the realization that we need a new and better home, city, and country. As I read through the passage I'll be preaching this coming Sunday, Revelation 21:1-8, it made me long for that Holy City–the New Jerusalem that comes down from heaven from God (Rev. 21:2). That is a city where decadence and poverty are laid to rest, never to rise again.
It's a city where no mourning will be present because all tears will be wiped away. It's a city where death is no more and pain no more because the former things would have passed away (Rev. 21:4). It's a city where we will behold the One seated on the throne and Lamb who sits at his right hand. I long for that place. But this is not some kind of escapist longing, it is, as far as I know, a holy one. I long for the city that is to come because Christ is there–he is the true prize and treasure of the new heavens and earth. He is the reward. He is where all longing is satisfied.
Come, Lord Jesus. Make my faith sight.
Rev. Mike Hernandez serves as the senior pastor of Crossroads Presbyterian Church. He is a graduate of Trinity International University (B.A.), Knox Theological Seminary (M.Div.), and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min.) at Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando.
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