Where The Streets Only Have Names

David L Payne really wanted to settle in Oklahoma. The only problem was that this was before it was Oklahoma and it was Indian Land. Payne thought since some areas in Indian Territory were unassigned, they should be allowed to be settled. So, he and his followers, known as Boomers illegally crossed into the land and set up a town near what would become Oklahoma City. The town, which he called Ewing, was cleared and streets were laid out in just a few weeks. Yet that is all it was a layout. Before anything could be made, Federal troops arrived and escorted the group out of Indian Territory. Ironically, when the Land Ran would open this land to settlers, people grabbed it up so fast they didn’t leave room for streets. When they finally got around to it figuring that out, the street on the east didn’t match the ones on the west. Jogs had to be added and land taken back to make it all work.

It turns out building a city is a little more complicated than people think.

In John 14:3 Jesus tells, "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.” Heaven is a prepared place. Jesus has made it just right. The streets are ready lined with pure gold (Revelation 21:21) Everything in order and made to be perfect. Revelation (21:16).

Yet, not just anybody can go in. Heaven is a prepared place made for prepared people. Only those whose name is in the Lamb’s book of life will be allowed in. Jesus wants us there; he made the preparation but we have to make sure that we can be there. Sin doesn’t exist in heaven and we can’t either if we still are in our sins.

No city on earth is perfect. But the City made by God is

“for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:10

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Ecclesiastes 12:10

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