This World Is
Not My Home
As
the words of a popular song say, “This world is not my
home; I’m just a passing thru. My treasures are laid up
somewhere beyond the blue”. Jesus says, “Lay up for
yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor
rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and
steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will
be also (Matthew
6:20-21). We must lay up our treasures in heaven,
not here on the earth. The Bible says, “And as it is
appointed for man to die once, but after this the
judgment” (Hebrews
9:27). When we draw our last breath, what we have
accumulated here on the earth will go to someone else.
After we pass from this life our fate is sealed and we
will be judged by what is written in the word of God (John
12:48).
Life here on earth is so temporary and short. Life
passes so quickly.
James 4:14 says, “Whereas you do not know what
will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even
a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes
away.” Many people are living their lives as though
they will live forever here on the earth. One day this
earth and all of its possessions will be burned up. No
one knows when this will be. “But the day of the Lord
will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens
will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will
melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works
that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all
these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons
ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2
Peter 3:10-11).
As
the words of the song continue to say, “If heaven is not
my home, then Lord what will I do?” For the vast
majority of people, heaven will not be their home (Matthew
22:14). Their home will be a real and never ending
hell in which they will be "tormented day and night
forever and ever in burning fire and brimstone" (Revelation
20:10, 15). But for the few whose home is heaven, “God
will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall
be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be
no more pain, for the former things have passed away”
(Revelation
21:4).
The
apostle Paul was longing to leave this world and go home
to heaven. He says, “For I am hard-pressed between
the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ,
which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh
is more needful for you…For our citizenship is in
heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour,
the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians
1:23-24,
3:20).
As
mortal human beings we cannot begin to imagine how great
and wonderful heaven will be. We cannot comprehend its
glory. Paul wrote in
1 Corinthians 2:9. "Eye has not seen, nor ear
heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man the things
which God has prepared for those who love Him."
We have, “an inheritance incorruptible and that does
not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1
Peter 1:4), “knowing that you have a better and
enduring possession for yourselves in heaven” (Hebrews
10:34). As human beings we are eternal in that we
have a soul that lives forever in one of two places. Our
home will be either heaven or hell. We make the choice
as to where we will go while we are here on Earth. If
one is not preparing to go to heaven he will end up in
hell.
Jesus taught, "seek first the kingdom of God and His
righteousness..." (Matthew
6:33). Our number one goal in this life must
be for heaven to be our home. "Enter by the narrow
gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that
leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by
it. Because narrow is the gate and difficult is the way
which leads to life, and there are few who find it"
(Matthew
7:13-14). No one will accidentally go to
heaven.
We at the church of Christ in Granby, Missouri would
welcome the opportunity to share our faith in the risen
savior with you. Our assembly times are Sundays from
10:00 AM to noon and from 5:00 to 6:00 in the
afternoons. We offer Bible studies on Wednesday
evenings from 6:00 to 7:00 PM. Directions to our
building are south on main street from the traffic light
to the Granby house and then east for 2 blocks on Pine
street. More information is available on our website at
www.granbychurchofChrist.org. All are welcome.
The
church of Christ
