JUST PASSING THROUGH

The 'unbeliever' feels at home in this world. His heart wrongly affirms ‘This is all there is to life and I am content to do with it as I will'. Though the emptiness in his soul prompts him to believe in the Creator, he chooses instead to go his own way. 

On the other hand, there is a 'pilgrim spirit' at the core of every true believer's divinely imparted hope. Christians know with certainty that they are 'sojourners' here. Their home and inheritance are in heaven ... and they anxiously look forward to being with Jesus.

For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself. Philippians 3:20-21

We live for a short time in these physical bodies, anticipating the bright future in our real home. While here, we share Abraham’s experience, living ... 

... like a stranger in a foreign country, looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. Hebrews 11:9-10.

John Walvoord - The earthly phase of our experience is purely temporary, the goal is to be with the Lord forever. Accordingly, our hope is not simply deliverance from sin in this life or growth in grace or the knowledge of Christ, but our anticipation leaps forward to that day when we will see our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Here again Paul has in mind the time of the resurrection of the righteous dead and the translation of the living saints.

If you are a follower of Christ, you sense that this world is foreign to you. Hold onto it loosely ...  

Don’t lay up treasures for yourselves on the earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break through and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust consume, and where thieves don’t break through and steal. Matthew 6:19-20

Spurgeon - These ancient words by Jesus are so appropriate to our wealthy Western culture where possessions often end up possessing their "owners". Or stated another way, it is not wrong to possess things, but it is wrong for things to possess us. The desire of many in our society is to build our lives around the "things" we own. 

If what took place on Calvary is the object of your daily contemplation; this world is 'crucified' unto you. Its allure fades in the light of future glory. 

But God forbid that I should boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.  Galatians 6:14

Live every day with 'bags packed', ready to move on when God leads ... eager to vacate this world when He calls you home.