My Real Home

I have been thinking a lot about how this world is not my home. I have read some pretty horrific and disheartening stories in the news lately: a young Arab woman was murdered by her husband for giving birth to a girl rather than a boy; a twelve-year-old sued her school (and won) because she was offended by the prayer that was written on the cafeteria wall; the decline in marriage in the West, but the surge in the fight for the “right” for homosexuals to marry; the 300,000 abortions that happen every year and the fight to keep it that way; the disdain for religion and Christianity because they go against the so-called freedom and rights of tolerant and secular America; the increase in sex trafficking both in our country and around the world; and, most recently, the new requirement for contraceptives (including abortifacient one) to be offered and funded by employers – even religious ones. These and numerous other horrible, horrible, heart-breaking things take place on a regular basis around the world and they are a vivid reminder that I don’t belong here. And, honestly, they make me not want to be here (which is something I have to repent over because I know that doesn’t honor the Lord). This country is not my real country and this city is not my real city. I am waiting and looking forward to a City that has foundations (of which Christ is the cornerstone), whose designer and builder is God (Hebrews 11:6; Ephesians 3:20).

The Lord has been teaching me much about my dual citizenship—both here and in heaven—my sojourning in a foreign land—through the sermons I hear at Rolling Fields as we go through the Psalms; through the messages I am transcribing on Hebrews at work; through my personal time of study through the Book of Daniel; through the books I am reading; and through the chapel sermons (yes I get paid to go to chapel!) that Dr. Mohler and Dr. Moore gave last week. Obviously the Lord wants to remind me where my true allegiance lies. He wants me to belong less here in this world so that I reflect more of the world of His kingdom to those around me (and I think last year was a big part of His working that out—stripping away the extras in my life so that all that I have left is Christ). I wish I could put into words the longing I have for this real, eternal home, but I can’t. (And you probably think I am crazy). The things here are just a copy, just a shadow of the true reality to come—the only City, Country and Kingdom that will last.

But it’s also true that I am still a citizen of this world as well, and until the Lord allows me to come Home it will continue to be so. Christ says that His people are in the world, but not of the world (John 15:19, 17:15), which means I function as citizens of two cities. I truly and ultimately belong to the City of God, but I am also part of this city. While I am here my King calls me to influence this world for good, which seems pretty futile when you look at the darkness of the times we are living in (just read the short list above) and the vast amount of lostness that exists among the nations. And if it weren’t for Christ that would be so. But the Gospel is powerful and can transform even the darkest places into a haven for God’s glory to shine forth. I have seen it happen and it will continue to happen. This is the mission of the people who name themselves Christ-followers—the Church. It is no easy task, but it is urgent and commanded (Matthew 5:14-16; Ephesians 5:7-17), and we have the promise of Jesus Christ that He will be with us, empowering us, always, even until the end of this world (Matthew 28:20).

And in the days of those kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that shall never be destroyed, nor shall the kingdom be left to another people. It shall break in pieces all these kingdoms and bring them to an end, and it shall stand forever. Daniel 2:44