.....through

It's a great privilege to be part of God's creation. Through the beauty of this world we have the honor to view "God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature" Romans 1:20. Every plant and animal; every hill, valley and body of water; every star in the sky and every man, woman and child declare the glory of God and attest to His majesty. And yet, as glorious as this world may be...it is not our home.

"Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in Heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables Him to bring everything under His control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like His glorious body." Philippians 3:19-21

When we place our trust in Jesus, He provides a way for us to be united with God and "adopted as His sons" Ephesians 1:5. We are adopted by grace and become "fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household" Ephesians 2:19. If we could gain even a small understanding of "God's household," we would hold very loosely any of our attachments to this world.

Abraham lived his life by faith. When God called Abraham to pack all his household and move, he obeyed "even though he did not know where he was going" Hebrews 11:8. Abraham was never concerned with his earthly dwelling; he was "longing for a better country - a Heavenly one" Hebrews 11:16. Abraham honored God through faith while remaining an "alien and a stranger on earth" Hebrews 11:13.

We have been placed in this world with all its beauty and with all its temptations. In fact, when we give our life to Christ, we are sent into the world for a purpose; "As You have sent Me into the world, I have sent them into the world" John 17:18. But we must NEVER become identified by the values of the world or driven by anything it can offer. We are sent into the world, but we must not be part of the world system; "They are not of the world, even as I am not of it" John 17:16.

Our home is defined as the place we feel most comfortable, the place we store our treasures and find rest for our soul. If we are a child of God, our eternal home is in His presence and we ought to be able to say, "Take everything I own but leave me Jesus and I will have enough!" 

This world can be VERY beautiful, and our lives in this world should always be a productive expression of worship for our Lord. But we must remember that our citizenship is in Heaven, and for all the days we walk this earth, we must walk as though we are just passing through!

- steve troxel