Where Is Your Home?
Posted by: forthrightmag <forthrightmag@...>
http://www.forthright.net
Going straight to the Cross
You need to know more than name, rank, and serial
number.
Where Is Your Home?
by Tim Hall
One of the first things many parents teach their
children is their address and phone number. It's
impressive to hear a toddler recite their street
address and home town. But it's more than a game
to impress others; it's a safety measure. In the
unthinkable event of a young child becoming lost
or abducted, it's helpful when the authorities can
quickly reunite that child with the parents.
Christians need to drill the same type of
information into their minds and hearts. Living in
this evil and dangerous world, it's all too easy
to take a wrong turn and suddenly realize we are
lost. It happens commonly with Christians. But the
crucial question is this: Will we remember where
"home" is? Or will our confusion keep us wandering
for the rest of our lives?
Before you respond with a "Duh!" to my question, I
ask you to think about this statement in Hebrews
11:13: "These all died in faith, not having
received the promises, but having seen them afar
off were assured of them, embraced them, and
confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on
the earth." (New King James Version) "These all"
points to some great people of faith: people like
Noah, Abraham, Sarah and others. One thing that
set them apart from others of their day was that
they did not consider the earth to be their home.
They lived with the conviction that they were
"strangers and pilgrims".
Not all Christians grasp this concept. It appears
that some regard this world to be everything to
them. All of their time, money and energy is
poured into this life. Very little of their
treasure is laid up in heaven. When it comes to
requests for help and resources for spiritual
matters -- "Sorry, I'm all tapped out!" Why are
their resources depleted, completely unavailable
for spiritual tasks? Because they are living for
this life only.
No one could charge Demas with being lukewarm. He
had given himself to the service of the Lord, and
was a valuable co-worker with the apostle Paul
(Colossians 4:14). But something happened to
Demas; something changed the way he thought. Paul
reflected on this once-fervent laborer: "For Demas
has forsaken me, having loved this present world,
and has departed . . ." (2 Timothy 4:10). Demas
forgot where "home" was.
Let us stop right where we are and look around.
Are we where we should be at this moment in our
lives? Or must we admit that we've taken some
wrong turns and are now lost? It's not a hopeless
situation. When we determine that "home" for us
will be in heaven with God, He'll take us by the
hand and help us find our way.
You can help us get the word out. Here's how:
forthright.antville.org/stories/340415/