No matter where we live, most of us would like a better home, or the money to fix it up the one we have now just the way we want it. Did you know that in 2018 the average homeowner spent $7,560 dollars on home improvements? I can’t tell you how many times that I fixed up a property just the way I wanted it and then when I sold it the new owner got to enjoy the benefits of all my improvements. I still opine the loss of two hand made Adirondack chairs that were on the front porch of my home in Ohio. I built them from scratch. But I simply had no more room on the moving truck for them.
Many of us Christians are really too “at home” here.
It’s said that “home is where the heart is”. Which begs the question, is my heart in the right place?
I will confess to you that I desire a home on a few acres out in the Texas Hill country. I don’t much like it where I’m living presently. It’s just too crowded and congested. I’m not comfortable living arms length away my neighbors. But my longing for something better shouldn’t be for the Texas Hill country, it should be for my heavenly home. The one where Jesus has gone to prepare a place for me. I’m not meant to be comfortable here. Neither are you.
We need to have the mind set of a soljourner. The fact is we are foreigners here. This world is not our home.
In Hebrews the writer describes that the people of faith went through tremendous persecution. They were abused, mistreated, and had all their belongings taken away. They wondered about in sheepskins living in holes and in caves. Many of them were killed for their faith. And that they “accepted it with joy” because they knew “better things” were waiting for them that would last forever. (See Heb 10: 32-36)
Church, we’re living in an ever increasingly evil time. Things are getting more perverted and anti- godly by the day. It should greive our spirit the way most people live. If it doesn’t bother you and you feel at home here, something’s wrong. Let’s not live like them building personal empires and fortunes down here.
Rather, let’s have a sojourners mind set. Let’s “set our mind on things above. Not on things on the earth”. For truly, this world is not our home. Our home is waiting for us where our Lord and Savior dwells. And it will be a much better home.
(Up next, the tale of two kings)