SEARCHLIGHT
Do you consider heaven your home? Home is where you belong.
SCRIPTURE
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout…1 Peter 1:1a NIV
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world… 1 Peter 2:11a NIV
SPOTLIGHT
You and I like to belong. We want to be liked and accepted. We like having friends and we don’t want to stand out. However, there is definitely one place where you and I do not belong. Let me personalize my explanation and allow the Apostle Peter to clarify this truth.
I don’t belong here on earth. Neither do you if you truly love Jesus with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Don’t get me wrong. Please do not misunderstand me. I love life. Oddly enough, Jesus has promised us abundant living here on earth but also a home to long for that He is preparing for you and me. [John 14] Every morning I wake up knowing God has a divine plan for me to fulfill that day. I love family and I love doing things, but I am very conscious of what Peter was telling his Christian brothers and sisters as seen in the above Scripture text. He referred to them as strangers and aliens in this world.
I am a stranger in this world. This is what Peter identified all believers to be. A stranger feels like a foreigner from another country. He looks around and sees the values and norms people are living by and says I just don’t fit in. He feels like an outsider because what he believes will never complement what he is observing. That’s how I feel. I just don’t belong even though I have family and friends who love me. Why? Because I live in a world that so easily expresses hate, envy, lust, and prejudice. There are too many innocent children, teens, and adults who have died because someone took their lives for no reason. Bloodshed is rampant. Anger is not controlled. Some people fight. Others are abused. Some go without food and shelter. Others greedily gather and consume more than they will ever need. Some yell, shout, swear, and totally disrespect others because they do not agree with them. Others are walked over and treated as if they were not human. Nations rise against nations to gain power. People are beheaded to overpower other people. My heart aches. Sometimes I feel sick. The news reported on TV and the internet is overwhelmingly saddening. This is not home. This is not a picture of the Kingdom of God which is marked by righteousness, peace, and joy. [Romans 14:17] This is a far cry from the abundant life that Jesus has put into my spirit. [John 10:10] I DON’T BELONG AND NEITHER DO YOU. I feel out of place. I can’t wrap my head around how people can be so mean and hateful. Sometimes it just appears to be demonically driven. I just don’t fit. Jesus wept over Jerusalem. I am sure His heart breaks as He now sees people hating people in the most reviled ways. I just don’t fit in because Jesus has given me His heart of love, turn-the-other-cheek forgiveness, peace, kindness, and joy.
I am passing through. Peter calls me an alien. An alien is a foreigner who has citizenship in another country. I am not extraterrestrial or illegal while I live here on earth but instead, I am on my way to where I belong. Someday I will be with people who will also have accepted Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Lord while on earth. According to the Apostle Paul, I am a citizen of heaven. [Philippians 3:20] My citizenship is recorded in God’s book of life. [Philippians 4:3] My goal is no longer gathering wealth here on earth but gathering as many people as possible who will come with me. My principles, values, convictions, and standards are given to me by Jesus Christ. I am on my way to be with my people. They are God’s chosen people. Peter spoke about them throughout his letter. He called them a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people belonging to God. This is where I belong. I am so looking forward to being with like-minded, spirited people who declare God is good and loving and merciful and giving.
Until then, my heart will go on singing. Many years ago, Stuart Hamblin composed a song, “But until then, my heart will go on singing, until then with joy I’ll carry on, until that day my eyes behold the city, until that day God calls me home.” That summarizes it. I will live for Jesus here on earth but I will long to go home to see my Savior face-to-face. Paul put it this way, “for me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” [Philippians 1:21] My earthly trip is temporary. God put me on this earth to bring honor and glory to Him. I will gladly and faithfully do just that. But just remember. I’m going home and I want you to come too. Heaven is my destiny. Home is where I belong. You belong there too. Jesus will be there to welcome you and me. “Hope to see you at home!”
SOMETHING TO DO
Think about heaven today. Ponder about how different it will be from earth. Reflect on whom you will see in heaven. Rejoice that earth is not your final destination but a kingdom awaits you that will outshine anything you could ever dream about or imagine. Tell someone your thoughts. Read Hebrews 11:13-16 and 13:14 for greater clarification and conviction.
SOUL TIME PRAYER
Jesus Christ, I come into Your presence today, conscious that someday I will see You face-to-face. I am so looking forward to that day. Sometimes I am so heavy-hearted by what I see and hear and experience in this world. This world is not my home. Thank you for promising me and preparing for me Your place which You call heaven. Until that day, help me to bring as many people as possible along with me to the place where we truly do belong, Your eternal, family gathering place. AMEN