January 24, 2023
This World is Not My Home
Mary Southerland
Today’s Truth
…rejoice that your names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20b NIV).
Friend to Friend
Heaven is on my mind these days. The holidays have a way of bringing to mind the family and friends waiting for me there.
Christmas vividly reminds me that this world is not my home. Heaven is. When I came to Christ in a personal relationship, my citizenship was changed from Earth to Heaven. And what a sweet exchange it was for me!
Heaven is where Jesus is.
“LORD, look down from the heavens and see; look at us from your wonderful and holy home in heaven” (Isaiah 63:15a NCV).
Heaven is a real place, a beautiful city of light.
“The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, because the glory of God is its light, and the Lamb is the city's lamp” (Revelation 21:23 ICB).
Heaven is my eternal home.
“You have this faith and love because of your hope, and what you hope for is kept safe for you in heaven” (Colossians 1:5 ICB).
When our son started high school, I was concerned. The new high school was much larger than the middle school he had attended. I could watch Jered from our front door until he walked through the front door of the middle school. The high school was farther away which meant we had to drive him. It was a good high school … but it was a high school where everything seemed much bigger, more complicated, and well, more dangerous.
The first day of school had my stomach tied in knots. Jered seemed fine, but I wondered if he was just trying to hide his nervousness from me. I kept myself busy after dropping him off at school where he disappeared into a crowd of what seemed like thousands of other high school students.
I ran all my errands and cleaned house – twice. I had agreed to let Jered walk home with several of his friends who lived in our neighborhood.
What was I thinking? I watched for him out his bedroom window for an hour. Just before panic set in, I spotted him walking down the sidewalk with two other boys. Jered looked fine, and he was even laughing! Whew!
When Jered walked in the front door, I was in the kitchen nonchalantly making sugar cookies – his favorite.
“Hi, Mom!” he said with a grin.
“Hi, Son! How was your day?” I replied.
“It was great!” Jered answered.
“Were you nervous at all?” I asked.
He thought for a moment and then said, “Nope. Well, a little one time when I couldn’t find my class, but I just asked one of the teachers, and then I found it.”
Amazing! I had been nervous enough for both of us. I asked him if they had done anything interesting in any of the classes. Being a teacher, I knew the first day of school is often a day of simply getting settled in a classroom.
Jered grinned and said, “In one class, my teacher asked us “Where is home?”
What a great question for the first day of school!
“What did you say, Jered?” I asked.
Jered said, “Wherever I am.”
Jered’s response stopped me in my tracks as I realized the profound truth behind it. Because I have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, I am always at home ... no matter where I am.
Heaven is my certain hope … and the backdrop against which I live each day.
“…rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20 NIV).
Jesus was a carpenter. He announced that He was going away to prepare for us a beautiful home in heaven. We know what kind of work He does. He created the universe in six days. He’s been working on heaven over 2,000 years. What a place it must be!
When the trials and troubles of daily life threaten to knock you off your feet, remember that this world is not your home. You are only passing through on your way to Heaven!
Let’s Pray
Father, thank You for the promise of heaven. Help me remember that this world is not my home. When the hard days come, give me the strength to stand firm, knowing You are with me. My hope is in You, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Now It’s Your Turn
When you think about Heaven, what thoughts come to mind? Do you look forward to and think of Heaven as your true home?
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© 2023 by Mary Southerland. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Tuesday, 24 January 2023.
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