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The city looks beautiful from a distance. Have you ever seen the San Francisco skyline as the sun descends in the west? Or the Tandy buildings lit up at Christmas time in Fort Worth? The view of Albuquerque is exquisite from the West Mesa looking down into the Valley. The hot air balloons fill the morning sky and the lights sparkle, illuminating the evening air.

Up close, now that's a different story--traffic jams, pollution, noise, crime, homelessness, stench, hopelessness. Our cities have unique problems that seem impossible to solve. Country folks think there is something inherently sinful about it and warn their young of the evils of the city.

What is the cure for the problems of the city? A new government, more police, better schools and more churches?

Several Biblical writers used the city as a metaphor for heaven. The writer of Hebrews wrote: "Abraham did this because he was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God. " (Hebrews 11:10 NLT)

Though the city has its problems, it also has its advantages. It is difficult to find a store open 24 hours a day in the country. You will never have your choice of restaurants, and perhaps more importantly, the country doesn't have emergency medical care just around the corner.

The city that God designed and built is one without crime, pollution or problems. It is a place where your every need is met.

It will be more beautiful than San Francisco in the evening, Fort Worth in the winter or Albuquerque in the fall. It has streets made of gold and doors made of pearls. Not an ordinary place. But most of all, it has God as its light.

Heaven is a place I'm looking forward to being, when it is time. Until then, I'll try to bring a little heaven to earth as an ambassador of the King.