"THERE IS A HABITATION"

"And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great, high mountain, and showed me the holy city Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God, its radiance like a most rare jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall, with twelve gates, and at the gates twelve angels, and on the gates the names of the twelve tribes of the sons of Israel were inscribed— 13 on the east three gates, on the north three gates, on the south three gates, and on the west three gates. 14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."

Revelation 21:10-14

The song, "There Is A Habitation," is such a beautiful and moving song.  This song helped me so much when my mother died, and it continues to help me with the recent loss of my father, mother-in-law, and cousin.  It gives us so much hope amid our troubled times and sufferings.  The Bible defines hope as the sure anchor of the soul.  Human hope is insignificant in comparison to the hope of the Bible.  This lovely song describes the great city, the New Jerusalem, where the glory of God dwells.  This precious city is filled with majesty, splendor, and glory.  This majestic and glorious city is filled with all precious stones, the 24 pillars, or foundations that are the 12 apostles and the 12 tribes of Israel.  In this majestic city, there is no temple, but our Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple and we, His church, are God's building, the holy Tabernacle as described in Ephesians 2:18-22.

"For through Him we both have our access in one Spirit to the Father.  So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord,  in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit."

I.  HEAVEN IS A HABITATION BUILT BY THE LIVING GOD:   
 
Our song describes the glories of heaven poetically.  A "habitation" is a dwelling place.  The church, as described in Ephesians 2:18-22, is God's habitation or dwelling place here on earth.  In the kingdom parables of Jesus, as recorded in Matthew chapters 13, 18, 22, and 25, the church is called the kingdom of heaven.  The church is the heavenly city. It had no need of the sun or moon to shine on it because God’s glory was enough to enlighten it, having our Lamb, Jesus as the central lamp.  This lamp would make all peoples walk in His light, bringing glory to it.  Its gates will not be closed because they will be there to bring the nations’ glory and honor into it. 

God also has built for us, His children, an eternal habitation or dwelling in heaven.  A city whose only foundation is God, for He is the principal Designer and Builder.  This "habitation" is the abode for all people "from every tribe and language and people and nation."  It is a kingdom of priests to God, reigning on the earth!  

"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God."  (Heb. 11:8-10)

"And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. 9 And they sang a new song, saying, 'Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, 10 and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."'  (Rev. 5:8-10)

II.   HEAVEN IS A CITY WITH FOUNDATIONS:

This heavenly city has foundations where there will be no wars.  As I mentioned earlier in my introduction, this heavenly city, the New Jerusalem, has twelve foundations: the twelve apostles of the Lamb (Revelation 21:14). These foundations are as firm and strong as God's throne.  Nothing abominable or unclean will be there but God's throne and His Lamb. There will be no wars, nor desolations, for everything that is not clean, causing wars, will be excluded.

"And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the twelve names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb."  (Revelation 21:14)

"But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life."  (Revelation  21:27)

III.  THERE WILL BE NO SORROW, DEATH, OR DECAY IN HEAVEN:

There will be no night, sorrow, death, or decay in that glorious heavenly city, no yesterday or tomorrow, for there will be eternal life.

"And its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there."  (Rev. 21:25)

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. 4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."'  (Rev. 21:3-4) 

"And this is the promise that he made to us—eternal life."  (1 John 2:25)

IV.   IN HEAVEN, BOTH ANGELS AND GLORIFIED IMMORTALS WILL SING PRAISES TO THEIR KING:

In the glorious heavenly city, its "portals" are gates that have twelve gates within its high wall.  At the gates, there are twelve angels, and the names of the twelve tribes of Israel.  Within these portals or gates, angelic armies sing,

"Worthy is the Lamb who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing!"  (Revelation 5:11-12)

In this heavenly city, the angels will join the glorified immortals, the redeemed of all ages.

"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, 23 and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, 24 and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel."  (Heb. 12:22-24)

CONCLUSION:

Although life on earth is tough for God's children, there always is heaven’s hope, our "habitation."  This hope strengthens us and helps us to endure when the trials are difficult and painful.  Thus whatever may come our way, we know that our reward, our prize, is waiting for us in heaven if only we will remain steadfast ‘till the end.  Heaven is worth it all!

The faithful of God have the hope of eternal life in heaven, a habitation.  We Christians hope for a beautiful place called heaven, our habitation.  We look forward to eternal life within its gates.  We anticipate with joy entering the gates of the heavenly city, our eternal home, or habitation.  This hope gives us joy and quenches our sorrows here on earth. 

God’s Word often speaks of heaven as God’s “habitation” where He dwells (Isa. 57:15; 1 King 8:30).  Heaven is also the dwelling of God's throne, where He rules in majesty over His entire creation (Ps. 103:19).  Not only is heaven God’s habitation, but it is also the place where His faithful saints will dwell forever. They can rightly call heaven their eternal home, the glorious heavenly city!  O Zion, Zion, I long thy gates to see; O Zion, Zion, when shall I dwell in thee? I commend this lovely song to your thoughts.

There is a habitation,

Built by the living God,

For all of every nation

Who seek that grand abode.

A city with foundations,

Firm as th’ eternal throne

Nor wars nor desolations

Shall ever move a stone.

No night is there, no sorrow,

No death, and no decay,

No yesterday, no morrow–

But one eternal day.

Within its pearly portals,

Angelic armies sing,

With glorified immortals,

The praises of its King.

The chorus 

O Zion, Zion,

I long thy gates to see;

O Zion, Zion,

When shall I dwell in thee?

Luci