Notice the following verses refer to a time still in Jerusalem’s distant future. We still do not see Jerusalem’s towers built of rubies, or its gates and walls with precious stones. This seems to be speaking of a new Jerusalem made up not just of the Jews, but of God’s chosen eternal home.
Isaiah 54:10 The mountains may move, and the hills may shake, but my kindness will never depart from you. My promise of peace will never change," says the LORD, who has compassion on you. 11 "You suffering, comfortless, storm-ravaged city! I will rebuild your city with precious stones. I will reset your foundations with sapphires. 12 I will rebuild your towers with rubies, your gates with sparkling stones, and all your walls with precious stones." 13 All your children will be taught by the LORD, and your children will have unlimited peace. 14 You will be established in righteousness. You will be far from oppression, so you will not be afraid. You will be far from destruction, so it won't come near you. 15 "If anyone attacks you, it will not be my doing. Whoever attacks you will be defeated by you. 16 I've created blacksmiths to fan the coals into flames and to produce useful weapons. I've also created destroyers to bring destruction. 17 No weapon that has been made to be used against you will succeed. You will have an answer for anyone who accuses you. This is the inheritance of the LORD'S servants. Their victory comes from me," declares the LORD. (GW)
Verse 17 has been a rallying cry for Jews and Christians. (KJV- No weapon formed against you …) The cheer leaders may see this as a ‘rah, rah, rah’. The drill sergeant teaches soldiers that it is an eternal hope (expectation) of the eternal victory. Christian’s who were slain in the coliseums by gladiators were killed by human weapons, but they could sing the victory song that they were being transported to a place where no longer would they face weapons formed against them.
Jeremiah 9:22 This is what the LORD says: Dead bodies will fall like manure on the field. They will be like grain that has been cut but not gathered. 23 This is what the LORD says: Don't let wise people brag about their wisdom. Don't let strong people brag about their strength. Don't let rich people brag about their riches. 24 If they want to brag, they should brag that they understand and know me. They should brag that I, the LORD, act out of love, righteousness, and justice on the earth. This kind of bragging pleases me, declares the LORD. (GW)
Do nations or people brag about their education and technology with Big Bang and evolution? Do nations or people brag about their riches when national economies are faltering all around? Do nations brag about their military when conflicts are rapidly diminishing resources? Do rich, arrogant politicians brag that they can turn the world around? Beware of who you trust!
2nd Corinthians 5:1 We know that if the life we live here on earth is ever taken down like a tent, we still have a building from God. It is an eternal house in heaven that isn't made by human hands. 2 In our present tent-like existence we sigh, since we long to put on the house we will have in heaven. 3 After we have put it on, we won't be naked.
4 While we are in this tent, we sigh. We feel distressed because we don't want to take off the tent, but we do want to put on the eternal house. Then eternal life will put an end to our mortal existence. 5 God has prepared us for this and has given us his Spirit to guarantee it. 6 So we are always confident. We know that as long as we are living in these bodies, we are living away from the Lord.
7 Indeed, our lives are guided by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident and prefer to live away from this body and to live with the Lord. 9 Whether we live in the body or move out of it, our goal is to be pleasing to him.
10 All of us must appear in front of Christ's judgment seat. Then all people will receive what they deserve for the good or evil they have done while living in their bodies. 11 As people who know what it means to fear the Lord, we try to persuade others. God already knows what we are, and I hope that you also know what we are. (GW)
Living in these earthly bodies, we are away from the transformed bodies we will receive for living in God’s eternal home. These bodies groan under the cares of this world. This is because we are pulled by that law of the flesh that lives in our earthly bodies by that law of the mind that draws us toward our ultimate goal (Romans 7). This earthly body is fraught with earthly cares, worries, temptations, and sufferings, yet the pull of this life somehow makes us reluctant to let it go. That we will receive a new heavenly home is guaranteed by the Spirit.
“If you’re saved and you know it say, “Amen!”” Many may not be familiar with this children’s song, others are. It’s a faith growing little song. “If you’re saved and you know it say, “Amen!”” There are those who would worry us with the notion that we could lose that ‘saved’ experience. “If you’re saved and you know it say, “Amen!”” Would they question the guarantee that is given by the Holy Spirit? “If you’re saved and you know it say, “Amen!”” Let us work and pray and teach those who do not have this faith to find it and to build up the faith of those who have that faith but their faith is weak.