Home Away From Home
I recently read the book "Jesus Freaks: Martyrs" by dc Talk and the group Voice of the Martyrs. It has been very humbling to read about the faith of so many who have suffered great persecution and even death because of their faith in Christ. Even in the face of great physical pain to themselves and often their family - these believers stood their ground and refused to deny their Savior.
A story I read that stood out to me was about Pastor Florescu. He was imprisoned in Romania in the 1960’s. He was arrested by the Communists and tortured in the hopes that he would give the names of other believers. He continually refused to give the names of his fellow Christian brothers and sisters. Then they did the unthinkable and brought in his 14-year-old son and began to whip him. The father watched until the writer says “the poor man was half crazy. He bore it as long as he could. But when he could stand it no more, he cried to his son, ‘Alexander, I must say what they want! I can’t bear your beatings anymore!’
His son answered, “Father, don’t do me the injustice of having a traitor as a parent. Withstand! If they kill me, I will die with the words, ‘Jesus and my fatherland.’” The story continues that this angered the Communists and they killed the son right there by beating him to death.
In the midst of this tragic story what stuck in my mind was the son’s hope of his “Fatherland”. The Scripture that followed this story was from verses 14 and 16 from Hebrews chapter 11. I chose to write out verses 13-16: “They agree that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (NLT)
This passage reminded me of the saying we have for places we frequent often: “It’s my home away from home.” While we often use this expression in fun, really it has a very deep truth to those who follow after Christ. This time and place we are living in now is not our true home. Our real home is eternity in heaven with our Father and Savior Jesus Christ. It is this heavenly, eternal perspective that give believers their true hope and peace. It’s what allowed the persecuted believers of long ago and of today to face death with such courage; because death will bring them into the presence of the Lord where there is no more pain or sorrow.
In first Peter 1:1, Peter began his letter by addressing it to “God’s elect, strangers in the world.” He later wrote to the believers in verse 17 that they were to, “live (their) lives as strangers here in reverent fear.” Again in chapter 2 verse 11 he spoke to the believers as “aliens and strangers in the world.”
Jesus spoke in John 15:19 saying, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” In John 17:14, Jesus prayed for His disciples by stating, “I have given them your word and the world has hated them for they are not of this world any more than I am of the world.”
I really like the song “Only Temporary” by “Mercy Me. The chorus says, “There’s a reason why this world just don’t feel right. We are strangers who are simply passing by.” The second verses speak of how “this place was never meant to be (our) home” that we are “standing on the outside looking in” but that we don’t “complain cause (we’re) “already on (our) way.”
I have to admit that it has taken me time to develop this “alien” perspective. In the not too distant past I found myself holding onto this world in a variety of ways - wanting to see, experience and have things to the extent of almost wishing the Lord would tarry until I could achieve them. Absurd, I know. As you would imagine, this kind of perspective does no one any earthly or heavenly good. It simply created discontent and frustration in my spirit.
God’s word is very clear about the kinds of treasures we are to store up. In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus told us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
What does it mean to store up heavenly treasures? Warren Wiersbe says, “it means to use all that we have for the glory of God.” He goes on to say that “wealth not only enslaves the heart, but it also enslaves the mind. (Also,) materialism can enslave the will. If God grants riches, and we use them for His glory, then riches are a blessing. But if we will to get rich, and live with that outlook, we will pay a great price for those riches.” In Hebrews chapter 11 we read of the faith of many believers from the Old Testament. This chapter tells us that Moses in particular “regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt.” Timothy commands the rich in chapter 6 verses 17-19 to “put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. . . To do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
So having a heavenly perspective affects how we live our life. These verses point out just a few of the outward signs of our mindset: using what we have for God’s glory and not our own selfish desires; putting our faith and hope in God instead of money, people or position; doing good deeds; and being generous with what we have (time, talent and money). By desiring to please and glorify the Lord, we will find greater contentment and satisfaction with life than if we are only looking out for our own selves.
Another positive outcome from having a heavenly outlook is how it helps us in trials and tribulations. When difficulties have arisen in life, at times it has felt overwhelming and I have begun to loose heart and become anxious. Thankfully these moments have lessened as I have begun to develop this eternal perspective.
1 Peter 1:6 says we should rejoice when we suffer grief and trials. Verse 7 gives the reason why. Peter writes, “These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Romans 5:3 says that we should “also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” And in James 1:2-4 we read that we should “consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
These verses help me see that trials serve a purpose in God’s plan for me. I will develop more of the Christ-like character traits that will bring glory to God in my life now, and praise from God when I am united with Him for eternity. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 sums it up by stating, “we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Mercy Me’s song “Only Temporary” also says, “Don’t let the situation get to you. This is not a hill worth dying on. Don’t let these circumstances tear your heart in two. Soon enough this chapter will be gone. What’s insurmountable today will simply one day fade away. In light of all eternity it‘s only temporary.”
I love the reminder that compared to eternity, nothing we experience here will last for any significant amount of time. Mira, a persecuted Christian in Bangladesh was quoted in 1997 as saying, “We give thanks to God that these things cannot destroy our spirit. Jesus told us that we are only here for a few days. We have eternal life and will stay with Him in heaven. He will take care of all this.”
Having an eternal perspective affects us in the here and now as well as in eternity. As we learn to set aside our selfish desires and focus on pleasing God now while we wait, we can experience hope and peace here on earth. And no matter how difficult our circumstances here on earth become, we have a great celebration to look forward to which can help get us through the tough times. How I look forward to my true home!
A story I read that stood out to me was about Pastor Florescu. He was imprisoned in Romania in the 1960’s. He was arrested by the Communists and tortured in the hopes that he would give the names of other believers. He continually refused to give the names of his fellow Christian brothers and sisters. Then they did the unthinkable and brought in his 14-year-old son and began to whip him. The father watched until the writer says “the poor man was half crazy. He bore it as long as he could. But when he could stand it no more, he cried to his son, ‘Alexander, I must say what they want! I can’t bear your beatings anymore!’
His son answered, “Father, don’t do me the injustice of having a traitor as a parent. Withstand! If they kill me, I will die with the words, ‘Jesus and my fatherland.’” The story continues that this angered the Communists and they killed the son right there by beating him to death.
In the midst of this tragic story what stuck in my mind was the son’s hope of his “Fatherland”. The Scripture that followed this story was from verses 14 and 16 from Hebrews chapter 11. I chose to write out verses 13-16: “They agree that they were foreigners and nomads here on earth. Obviously people who say such things are looking forward to a country they can call their own. If they had longed for the country they came from, they could have gone back. But they were looking for a better place, a heavenly homeland. That is why God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (NLT)
This passage reminded me of the saying we have for places we frequent often: “It’s my home away from home.” While we often use this expression in fun, really it has a very deep truth to those who follow after Christ. This time and place we are living in now is not our true home. Our real home is eternity in heaven with our Father and Savior Jesus Christ. It is this heavenly, eternal perspective that give believers their true hope and peace. It’s what allowed the persecuted believers of long ago and of today to face death with such courage; because death will bring them into the presence of the Lord where there is no more pain or sorrow.
In first Peter 1:1, Peter began his letter by addressing it to “God’s elect, strangers in the world.” He later wrote to the believers in verse 17 that they were to, “live (their) lives as strangers here in reverent fear.” Again in chapter 2 verse 11 he spoke to the believers as “aliens and strangers in the world.”
Jesus spoke in John 15:19 saying, “If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.” In John 17:14, Jesus prayed for His disciples by stating, “I have given them your word and the world has hated them for they are not of this world any more than I am of the world.”
I really like the song “Only Temporary” by “Mercy Me. The chorus says, “There’s a reason why this world just don’t feel right. We are strangers who are simply passing by.” The second verses speak of how “this place was never meant to be (our) home” that we are “standing on the outside looking in” but that we don’t “complain cause (we’re) “already on (our) way.”
I have to admit that it has taken me time to develop this “alien” perspective. In the not too distant past I found myself holding onto this world in a variety of ways - wanting to see, experience and have things to the extent of almost wishing the Lord would tarry until I could achieve them. Absurd, I know. As you would imagine, this kind of perspective does no one any earthly or heavenly good. It simply created discontent and frustration in my spirit.
God’s word is very clear about the kinds of treasures we are to store up. In Matthew 6:19-21 Jesus told us, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
What does it mean to store up heavenly treasures? Warren Wiersbe says, “it means to use all that we have for the glory of God.” He goes on to say that “wealth not only enslaves the heart, but it also enslaves the mind. (Also,) materialism can enslave the will. If God grants riches, and we use them for His glory, then riches are a blessing. But if we will to get rich, and live with that outlook, we will pay a great price for those riches.” In Hebrews chapter 11 we read of the faith of many believers from the Old Testament. This chapter tells us that Moses in particular “regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt.” Timothy commands the rich in chapter 6 verses 17-19 to “put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment. . . To do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share. In this way they will lay up treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age, so that they may take hold of the life that is truly life.”
So having a heavenly perspective affects how we live our life. These verses point out just a few of the outward signs of our mindset: using what we have for God’s glory and not our own selfish desires; putting our faith and hope in God instead of money, people or position; doing good deeds; and being generous with what we have (time, talent and money). By desiring to please and glorify the Lord, we will find greater contentment and satisfaction with life than if we are only looking out for our own selves.
Another positive outcome from having a heavenly outlook is how it helps us in trials and tribulations. When difficulties have arisen in life, at times it has felt overwhelming and I have begun to loose heart and become anxious. Thankfully these moments have lessened as I have begun to develop this eternal perspective.
1 Peter 1:6 says we should rejoice when we suffer grief and trials. Verse 7 gives the reason why. Peter writes, “These have come so that your faith - of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire - may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Romans 5:3 says that we should “also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” And in James 1:2-4 we read that we should “consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
These verses help me see that trials serve a purpose in God’s plan for me. I will develop more of the Christ-like character traits that will bring glory to God in my life now, and praise from God when I am united with Him for eternity. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 sums it up by stating, “we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
Mercy Me’s song “Only Temporary” also says, “Don’t let the situation get to you. This is not a hill worth dying on. Don’t let these circumstances tear your heart in two. Soon enough this chapter will be gone. What’s insurmountable today will simply one day fade away. In light of all eternity it‘s only temporary.”
I love the reminder that compared to eternity, nothing we experience here will last for any significant amount of time. Mira, a persecuted Christian in Bangladesh was quoted in 1997 as saying, “We give thanks to God that these things cannot destroy our spirit. Jesus told us that we are only here for a few days. We have eternal life and will stay with Him in heaven. He will take care of all this.”
Having an eternal perspective affects us in the here and now as well as in eternity. As we learn to set aside our selfish desires and focus on pleasing God now while we wait, we can experience hope and peace here on earth. And no matter how difficult our circumstances here on earth become, we have a great celebration to look forward to which can help get us through the tough times. How I look forward to my true home!
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