High density living seems to be “the go” these days in our cities. I’m generally not impressed – rows of glass and cardboard boxes, eaves touching, no room to park, and hardly a tree in sight! This kind of environment is likely to increase tension between neighbours.
God’s city in the new heaven and earth will not be like this. It has rivers flowing through it, and a magnificent forest of trees whose leaves heal all human trouble (Revelation 22:1-5).
God’s city will be high density though; it will include those out of all the nations of the earth (Revelation 21:24-26). We will be “healed” then; no more neighbours’ tensions or hurt inflicted by anyone; and in its place, closest friendships, mutual blessing and flourishing life (Isaiah 11:6-9).
Timothy Keller once considered the question, why will there be a city in the eternal new heaven and earth? – why can’t everyone simply be spread out across that infinite land? He understood that the sheer “density of love” – the intimacy of God’s people with Himself and all others – will require it.
This means absolutely everything for us and our mission here and now, because the church family are a “seed community” of God’s eternal city (Philippians 3:20). Through the grace of Christ, by faith and the power of the Holy Spirit, we already have God’s healing love and true community to enjoy and offer to all our neighbours.
And there won’t be a tasteless “glass and cardboard box” in sight! (Revelation 21:9-21)
Grace upon grace, Jonathan.