“In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2)
“For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God.” (Heb. 11:10)
This is not our home, heaven is, the New Jerusalem is, and as far as we know will be forever. Some say the new earth will be, and I will not argue the point, the real point is this, this is not our home. Our citizenship is of heaven, we are of the Kingdom of the Almighty, accepted in Christ, the righteousness of God. We are ambassadors and ambassadors do not make themselves at home in the nation they have been sent to, they do not purchase land and houses, they do not swear loyalty to that nation, they, we already have a home waiting for us.
We make our plans to go home, we work until we are called home, we do not retire in the land we have been sent to, and we do not find great comfort in it.
No one who serves Jesus Christ as Lord retires, we do not stop until we are told to, and then the Lord opens another door for us to begin working for Him. When you take your last breath on this planet, your work is done. “For we are strangers before thee, and sojourners, as were all our fathers: our days on the earth are as a shadow, and there is none abiding.” (1 Chron. 29:15)
Jesus did not take any of the money from the bag that Judas carried to purchase a house or even a centralized meeting place. As far as I know our Lord was an outdoorsman, so to speak, exceptionally well versed in camping outside under the stars. Now, that is not to say you should emulate Him in this regard, but it does prove the point in part, this is not our home, and we should never behave as it is. At best, think of where you live today as a rental, whether it be a single-family dwelling or an apartment, condominium, or whatever. Whether you are making payments on it, or it is paid off, it is not home but simply a place to eat, rest your head, perhaps raise a family or conduct business from, it does not matter, it is not home. If you enjoy the neighborhood, if the place you live in is comfortable, furnished well, is restful and peaceful there is a possibility that you will become too comfortable there, that you will begin to see it as home, and perhaps not fear to lose it, but may begin to see your heavenly home with less enthusiasm.
I have never yet met one born-again believer who is thrilled with anticipation about walking on streets of gold, or passing those gates made of pearls, it is not that the thought is not enjoyable, but it is not at the top of their mind. Nor is what the place they will live in, their mansion as the Scripture calls them, something they spend a lot of time thinking about. Meeting Jesus Christ face-to-face is, seeing God is, relishing in the knowledge that we will forever be His is what we think of.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” 1 Corinthians 2:9 is one of their favorite verses, Psalm 16:11 is another, “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.”
Beauty beyond comparison describes our home, a Kingdom without end is where we will live. No moths, no rust, no sin or sorrow or tears.
Home sweet home.
Even if you live on land that goes back generations in your family tree, even if He has blessed you to live in a place that has everything you need, has a view that you would not trade for another on this entire planet, never look at it as home. We are travelers here from a place far away, we are ambassadors on a mission, to proclaim the good news that all are welcome to come to where we are going.
Please do not forget that.
