Hymn Spotlight: "Abiding City"

Song Title: Abiding City
Artist: Sandra McCracken
Album: The Builder and the Architect
Writer: Sandra McCracken (inspired by Thomas Kelly)

O sweet home of love and peace
Where pilgrims tired and troubled rest
Into the hope of Zion lean
Where in Jesus' arms we will fall at last

Oh lift up your head
For the day is near
We have no abiding city here

Addiction's empty promises
This broken world cannot satisfy
A sweeter song, redemption's bliss
Is sealed for us in paradise

Oh lift up your head
For the day is near
We have no abiding city here

Spirit heal our neighborhood
Until your kingdom work is done
Teach us what is just and good
As we look for the city yet to come

Oh lift up your head
For the day is near
We have no abiding city here

A city filled with gold and light
God the builder and the architect
When our faith is turned to sight
Oh I cannot imagine it

Oh lift up your head
For the day is near
We have no abiding city here

Audio sample plus words from Sandra: Here

Why this hymn: It's simply really. Everytime I hear this song I think of The Pilgrim's Progress. Perhaps it's the word 'pilgrims' in the second line that does it or the constant stressing that we do not have an abiding city here but long for a city that is yet to come -- similar themes I found in the book reviewed just yesterday. So why not name this hymn as the unofficial theme hymn of a dead guy's book?

Why I like it: First of all, it's on my favorite CD, and a line from this song is where The Builder and the Architect may well get its name. Sandra once again does a fantastic job of singing. The hymn as a very clear yet simple feel to it -- things in this world won't satisfy us, and we should be awaiting paradise. And we should live as though there is more to life than what this world has to offer. It also offers up a delightful view of heaven I think, speaking of things such as 1.) being in the arms of Christ, 2.) looking for a city that is yet to come that is better than what we see now, 3.) not being able to imagine the sight of this city that God has built -- Let us, therefore, lift up our heads despite what may bring them down and press on to the end so that we may arrive one day at the Celestial City that Christian and Christiana longed for so much in The Pilgrim's Progress.

Related Scripture: Hebrews 12:22-28, 1 Peter 2:11, Revelation 21:21-22

Favorite Line: "Addiction's empty promises, This broken world cannot satisfy" -- Isn't it good to be reminded that addictions and sin in general promise things they can't fulfill? We really can't be satisfied by the things of this world, no matter how much we try. No amount or level of food or money or power or fame or lust or excitement or victory can truly satisfy a lost soul -- or even a found soul for that matter. Only Christ can satisfy -- through the bliss of redemption that is sealed for us in paradise.