Whose Designer and Builder Is God {Meditation

Adam was put in a garden, where he walked with God among the other creatures. Christ’s brothers and sisters will at the end enter the eternal city, where we will walk again with God. In the meantime Adam’s kind has been striving, without an articulate aim, to find that future city, which is hidden until the revelation of all things. We desire the city inherently, because God designed us as social creatures (cf. Ge. 2:18). Since they were expelled from the garden, humans have come together to build cities, great societies where the human name could be magnified and exalted, where peoples trade the fruits of their knowledge, where those inside it take from those outside to eat and drink and be satisfied. It began with Cain, who wandered east of Eden (cf. Ge. 4:16f.). He was expelled from the fellowship of his family and of God, and to fill the void he, with all his art, built up a city in his son’s name. God also wants to build up a city bearing his Son’s name.

In a city, humans become powerful. Their efforts are concentrated and their strength is magnified. This is by God’s design, too:

Behold how good and pleasant it is

when brothers live together in unity! Ps. 133:1 ESV

But in a city, humankind is yet subject to desires for illicit things, like that first one that brought corruption into the world. This desire is also magnified. In Eden, there was one tree forbidden, and there was one sin committed. In a city, the artificial grove of illicit fruit is manifold, and society is riddled with pitfalls like the one in the garden. Knowing this, against those who are violent like Cain, the prophet shouts,

Prepare slaughter for his sons

because of the guilt of their fathers,

lest they rise and possess the earth,

and fill the face of the world with cities. Isa. 14:21

The Lord did not send the father of his people out to build a city, but Abraham lived in a tent and looked forward to “the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God” (Heb. 11:10). Likewise he does not send out his chosen servants to exalt their own name and power, but to seek out the name of the Lord and take it upon us. We are designed to desire a city, but God has not set to us the task of building it ourselves. Instead he means to build it with his great art. He has always planned to build it for us, but Adam and Eve were not ready for it, and their descendants cannot enter in until their individual sin-wounds are healed. We must be sundered from the glorious human city, over which the peoples will cry,

Alas, alas, for the great city

that was clothed in fine linen,

in purple and scarlet,

adorned with gold,

with jewels, and with pearls!

For in a single hour all this wealth has been laid waste.

…

So will Babylon the great city be thrown down with violence,

and will be found no more;

and the sound of harpists and musicians, of flute players and trumpeters,

will be heard in you no more,

and a craftsman of any craft

will be found in you no more,

and the sound of the mill

will be heard in you no more,

and the light of a lamp

will shine in you no more,

and the voice of bridegroom and bride

will be heard in you no more,

for your merchants were the great ones of the earth,

and all nations were deceived by your sorcery.

And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints,

and of all who have been slain on earth. Re. 18:16f.,21-24

God will overthrow the greatest works and make empires desolations. Nothing of Adam’s kingdom will remain. We will be left like nomads and wanderers, having nothing to claim as our own, until the New Jerusalem descends from heaven and opens its gates to the kings of the earth. Then the sons and daughters of the living God will have the great society they desired, where the name of their Lord is exalted and they rejoice in his glory, where peoples trade the fruits of God’s revelation, where those inside the city take from bounty of the Creator among them to eat and drink and be satisfied.

Until then, let us follow after the Lord like nomads, like people in the desert, like sojourners and strangers in a foreign land, waiting for our Maker to give us all we ever need.