Much is said in the Christian community about how we are ‘not of this world’ or ‘just passing through’. We use phrases like ‘this is not our home’ or ‘this is only temporary’ and yet looking at the lives of most Christians, me included, it’s very hard to see the difference between us, those who are just ‘passing through’ and people who are here to stay.
Really, honestly, do you live your life as if this is a temporary home or do you hoard and collect and save up and put down deep roots?
If your answer to the above question is yes then you’re not alone. Here’s why:
I was watching an episode of the TV show ‘The Event’ a few weeks before Christmas when they revealed that a large number of the characters on the show had the same problem we do.
In brief, we discovered in that episode (Season 1, Episode 9, ‘Your World to Take‘) that many of the characters in the show are in fact human-looking aliens who appear to have been stranded here on earth.
Their leader was talking to a select few of them about their plans to return home and she sensed that they were a little reluctant to leave. When she asked them about it, they told her this:
“… Living here has had a profound effect on all of us. Most of us have grown to like it… and the truth is, we don’t want to go home…
….We are starting families. We’re making a life here.”
When you put those statements in the context of the show (the aliens have been stranded here for at least the last 67 years) it’s easy to see that you’d either be sick of the place and just want to go or you would have become so enmeshed with the world around you that you couldn’t imagine leaving.
How Does That Relate To Us?
Turning the looking glass on our own lives, our situation is somewhat similar to these fictional character’s lives – and so is our response.
While it’s true to some degree that we do need to take care of our families and put a roof over their heads etc, where in the bible are we ever told to take out life insurance and build up our retirement plans?
Where is it suggested that we should spend thousands of dollars collecting pez dispensers and hundreds of hours cataloging them and displaying them proudly?
Where do we get the idea that we should display all of the trappings of wealth and prosperity for all to see?
If we are truly not of this world and we’re truly trying to be ambassadors for the world we are from, then why is it so hard to distinguish us from those who ARE of this world?
The answer… because we’re hypocrites.
We live a lie.
We say one thing and do another.
… and we’re experts at finding ways to justify all of our ‘stuff’, all of the things that tie us to this world.
We know that we’re not staying here… but we like it here and we just want to settle down.
I’m going to be talking more about this subject on Wednesday, looking at some scriptures and comparing our lives to the prescription we are given.
Watch out. It might hurt,
What do you think? am I way off base on this one?
You are not wrong Peter, and sadly things are much worse here in North America. The affluence is unbelievable and yet people are unhappy and fall prey to addictions because they have no purpose in life. I emmigrated from England to Canada in1977 and always tell my children that I want engraved on my tombstone:
“In Canada you can live on other people’s leftovers” because it’s absolutely true. The waste is criminal. Keep up the good work Peter!
Thanks, Elizabeth.
You’re absolutely right!
Great thoughts, Peter. I appreciate this post.
Thanks, Mark.
I appreciate you taking the time to comment.
Of course you’re not way off base. You’re exactly right.
Katdish, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate you and how awesome you are.
Very good article!
It brings to mind these two scriptures.
For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want. Gal 5:17
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 1 John 1:8-9
Ooo, good scriptures….
Maybe I’ll include them in my post on Wednesday.
Excellent post! We are all guilty…even when we say we have our priorities in line. We all by nature are creatures of habit, comfort, and routine. On a daily basis we must remind ourselves that we are on a mission different than what the world prompts us to pursue.
Thanks, David.
You’re right… it’s a constant battle that we have to fight
This post was very timely for me. Our home burned a week before Christmas. When people expressed their sympathy, I responded over and over by saying “it’s just stuff,” or “I’ve certainly endured greater losses,” that being a reference to the loss of friends and some family relationships as a result of my struggle with a sexual issue, now resolved through the Grace of God.
Losing a lot of “stuff,” does give us pause, as we wonder what of it mattered, even when we are finding ourselves tempted to replace it all.
I can imagine leaving this world. I am more concerned about what I do while I am here, than what I can get.
Good post.
Thom
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jt7LdZwegkU
Wow. It’s easy for me to sit here and talk about it… but if I was in a position you are in, I don’t know if I’d have the strength you have!
It was an odd blessing . . . and not the sort of thing you pray for. But I’ve really learned a lot from it, including more compassion for those who endure much more difficult things and far more often.
I honestly don’t know if you’re off base. I’ve been struggling with this very issue, and because God purposed for me to be an American–by birth–it only adds to my struggle for clarity on this subject. Americans are the most prosperous, and therefore, possibly less focused on temporariness.
I do not hoard or even collect. I live in a nice 2-story home that provides a home for four young adults, our 6-yr. old grandson, and my husband and me. My walls are mostly furnished with the genious artwork of our daughter. Nothing in our home is extravagant, just enough to make it look like someone lives here. My husband and I regularly look for Jesus’ return. We are both in ministry, and we both work–him, outside the home; me, at home.
Still…do we live in such a way that it appears we are rootless here? And through whose eyes is this opinion to be made? In my opinion; in my husband’s opinion, we live pretty much down-to-earth, though we do own 2 vehicles, a big-screen TV, and computers. But we’re looking each day for Christ’s return. We live each day as if it could be our last. Perhaps, it’s our age (we’er in our mid-50s). But we also live according to our responsibilities.
We live in a rural neighborhood, on a cul de sac, where the neighbors know we are Believers, and I think they expect more from us: keeping up the yard, the house, the way we go in and out in our cars. Again, nothing extravagant is done, but we care about the appearance of our home.
Certain members of our household have God-given talents; does this mean we shouldn’t buy music sheets, nonfiction books, material and patterns, canvases and paints, wood, etc., to hone our musical, writerly, sewing and quilting, painting and woodworking abilities? Would God prefer we do not take part in creative outlets?
I look forward to hearing what more you have to say about the biblical command to put in shallow tent pegs.
One thing I know for sure is that God doesn’t want us beating ourselves up.
I think the issue here is one of heart (isn’t it always?)
Jesus told the rich young man to go sell everything he owned. Why? Because Jesus knew that the man’s wealth was more important to him than his salvation.
The question we have to ask ourselves is “Do we live for money or do we simply use the resources God gives us the best way we can?”
Or how about this one, “If God asked you to sell everything and go somewhere else for him, would you do it? COULD you bring yourself to do it?”
Thank you for that reminder; yes, it always goes back to the heart. Good questions, and I joyfully know my answers. Still looking forward to your post on Wednesday.
We can receive the blessings of God freely and that can include a house, car, whatever (but in no way has to be material). The test comes when God may ask us to give it up or give it away, then we find out who’s really Lord of our lives. Not going to lie, I’ve passed the test many times and failed many times. I want to live though with the truth that none of this controls or owns me and I will trust God with everything. Good stuff, Peter. Thanks.
Great post, Peter! God isn’t against us having nice things. He is most interested in, as you said, where our hearts are focused…on the things or the thing-Giver! We are so spoiled in this country. I once wrote that we are so much more fortunate and blessed than two-thirds of the world, and yet, we whine when our new shoes pinch our feet! We think that more is better. Only more of God is better! As always, very thought provoking! Thank you!
We need to quit trying to figure out how we can use God and focus instead on how God can use us.
Nice redesign, Peter, Love it!