Note: I wrote this post a while ago, but the Holy Spirit would simply not let me post it. In fact, as I write this note, He’s not letting me post it. But since I wrote this post, I’ve seen many confirmations from other believers by way of sermons, blog posts, and Facebook that they too are receiving this revelation.
Where exactly is home? Now, it would be a violation of privacy and legal policies regarding it to go ahead and list in the comments your exact address. But that’s not what I’m asking for.
I’m asking for your home. Not your house, your home.
“Well, I’ve done everything I can to make my house feel like home, Elle.”
Again, not what I’m asking for.
Let me phrase it this way: what do you consider to be home? Your house? Your country? Your property? Your church? Something else? Where do you feel most at home at?
Think very seriously about your answer to this question, as it’s directly tied to your relationship with your Father. Home always is.
I hope your answer was none of the things I mentioned. When one feels more at home in those settings than anywhere else, that’s a red flag for one’s relationship with the King.
He wants Heaven to be Home for you.
“Well, Heaven’s not here, Elle. Don’t judge me for having a place that feels like home here at earth, at least until I die.”
But heaven should be here. (And I’m not judging you) The Presence of our Almighty King should be home. We are ambassadors for our Father; we bring heaven to earth. Home is here. But it shouldn’t be your house. Or your relatives’ house. Or your country. Or anywhere else on this planet.
“Well, America (insert “home” country) is allowed to be my home. I mean, I have pride in my country and our military, and I really love it. This country is my homeland, and it always will be.”
Every country has its flaws. Every country has its roots in evil in some way or another. And don’t even start with the whole thing about America being a Christian nation. I won’t even get distracted talking about that. Look it up if you’re interested.
2 Peter 2:11 MSG Friends, this world is not your home, so don’t make yourselves cozy in it. Don’t indulge your ego at the expense of your soul.
I’ll say it: America is not my home, and that includes Georgia, South Dakota, Alaska, all the states in between, and whatever others I’ve been to. Nicaragua is not my home. Canada is not my home. Israel is not my home. No house on this planet is my home. Not even my favorite place yet on this earth is home, or any other country I’ve been to and didn’t mention. None of these places are my home (or any other places, for that matter), any more than Hungary or Lesotho or Bangladesh or any other country I’ve never been to is home.
And you know what? Not only is America not home, I’m not even an American!
Let’s review 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 in the Message. (I am using the Message for this post because I think it best gets the point across–it is accurate for the verses I’ve been using it for)
For instance, we know that when these bodies of ours are taken down like tents and folded away, they will be replaced by resurrection bodies in heaven—God-made, not handmade—and we’ll never have to relocate our “tents” again. Sometimes we can hardly wait to move—and so we cry out in frustration. Compared to what’s coming, living conditions around here seem like a stopover in an unfurnished shack, and we’re tired of it! We’ve been given a glimpse of the real thing, our true home, our resurrection bodies! The Spirit of God whets our appetite by giving us a taste of what’s ahead. He puts a little of heaven in our hearts so that we’ll never settle for less.
So what do you say? What is home? Is it America (or another country), with all of its issues? Is it your church, with all of its human tendencies? Is it your house, knowing that it’s just four walls with a roof on top that will be destroyed either in this life or at the end of time? Is it somewhere else?
Or is your treasure invested in Heaven?
Elle's Everyday 