In the fourth century when...
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In the fourth century when the Roman Empire was crumbling and the foundation of all
they knew seemed to have been swept away, Augustine wrote a book, The City of
God. All human kingdoms, he wrote may pass away. But there is another kingdom
not built with hands that can always be trusted: the city of God. His words became a
lifeline for defeated Christians.
Perhaps Augustine had been reading the book of Revelation. Rome set out to destroy the church. Christians were tortured mercilessly. Many lost their livelihood and their lives. Many of those early believers were poor. Some were slaves. It was a hard time to believe that God was with them. So John gave fellow strugglers a great vision of a land that was fairer than day. A place prepared for all those who had lived through the great ordeal (7:14). God prepared a place where there would be no more hunger, no more thirsting, and no more scorching heat. God will be with them and every tear would be wiped from their eyes. Such a vision became the lifeline not only for those persecuted and tortured but for people in every age. No wonder at the gravesides we open the last book in the Bible and read from this seventh chapter. It still provides hope for people who must leave that sad place and stumble back into life far different than the world they had known.
Sometimes poetry can express our longings and our hope better than most words. Langston Hughes puts it beautifully in his hopeful poem, "Judgment Day." Due to copyright laws, we cannot print it here, but you can access the beautiful words online, or read it in his book, Selected Poems of Langston Hughes (New York: Vintage Books, 1974), p. 26.
Perhaps Augustine had been reading the book of Revelation. Rome set out to destroy the church. Christians were tortured mercilessly. Many lost their livelihood and their lives. Many of those early believers were poor. Some were slaves. It was a hard time to believe that God was with them. So John gave fellow strugglers a great vision of a land that was fairer than day. A place prepared for all those who had lived through the great ordeal (7:14). God prepared a place where there would be no more hunger, no more thirsting, and no more scorching heat. God will be with them and every tear would be wiped from their eyes. Such a vision became the lifeline not only for those persecuted and tortured but for people in every age. No wonder at the gravesides we open the last book in the Bible and read from this seventh chapter. It still provides hope for people who must leave that sad place and stumble back into life far different than the world they had known.
Sometimes poetry can express our longings and our hope better than most words. Langston Hughes puts it beautifully in his hopeful poem, "Judgment Day." Due to copyright laws, we cannot print it here, but you can access the beautiful words online, or read it in his book, Selected Poems of Langston Hughes (New York: Vintage Books, 1974), p. 26.
