This World Is Not My Home

This World Is Not My Home   

     As the words of the song say, “This world is not my home; I’m just a passing thru.  My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue”.  Jesus says, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:20-21).  We must lay up our treasures in heaven, not here on the earth.  The Bible says, “And as it is appointed for man to die once, but after this the judgment” (Hebrews 9:27).  When we draw our last breath, what we have accumulated here on the earth belongs to someone else.  After we die our fate is sealed and we will be judged.  

     Life here on earth is so temporary and short.  Life passes so quickly.  James 4:14 says, “Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow.  For what is your life?  It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away.”  Many people are living their lives as though they will live forever here on the earth.  One day this earth and all of its possessions will be burned up.  No one knows when this will be.  “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.  Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness” (2 Peter 3:10-11).  

     As the words of the song continue to say, “If heaven is not my home, then Lord what will I do?”  For the vast majority of people, heaven will not be their home (Matthew 7:13-14).  Their home will be a real and living hell in which they will be tormented day and night forever and ever in burning fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:10, 15). But for the few whose home is heaven, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.  There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).  

     The apostle Paul was longing to leave this world and go home to heaven.  He says, “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.  Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you…For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:23-24, 3:20).  

     As mortal human beings we cannot begin to imagine how great and wonderful heaven will be.  We cannot comprehend its glory.  We have, “an inheritance incorruptible and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4), “knowing that you have a better and enduring possession for yourselves in heaven” (Hebrews 10:34).  As human beings we are eternal in that we live forever and ever in one of two places.  Our home will be either heaven or hell.  We make the choice as to where we will go.  If one is not preparing to go to heaven he will end up in hell.  Our number one goal in this life must be for heaven to be our home.  No one will accidentally go to heaven. 

By Ron Boatwright