(Don’t) Make Yourself at Home

“For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…” Philippians 3:20 NKJV

I am grateful to have a job that affords me the opportunity to travel to many different places. I have been able to spend time in cities and states that I have never visited, and may never have visited. This summer, I was able to travel abroad for the first time to train science teachers on American military bases in Germany. This was a wonderful experience, as I had never been on a base. It was fascinating to see how closely the base living resembles American living. I was told that the military tries to make the soldiers and their families feel as connected to America as possible, even in a foreign country. On the base they have shopping centers, movie theaters, American schools, car dealerships, cable tv, etc. As I spoke to the teachers, they all had a sense of appreciation for these efforts; nevertheless, they all still missed being home.

In Philippians, Paul is reminding the church that earth isn’t our home. I think we all need reminding of this from time to time. The comforts of our earthly experience can make us feel like this is where we belong and may cause us to get complacent. We falter in our assignments from the Father as we begin focusing on earthly pursuits. Or we get discouraged because the trials of this life weigh us down and that takes our eyes off the promise. But thank God for His word, that admonishes and encourages us, by letting us know that life is “a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away” (James 4:14). Much like the soldiers in Germany, who know their citizenship is in America, we should know that our citizenship is in Heaven. That should bring us both motivation to work for the Lord while there’s still time, and consolation because the trials of this life will soon be over. Don’t get comfortable; for one day, we’re headed home.