Longing for Our Homeland

13These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. Heb 11:13-14

During the Great awakening, one description given to many of the people during this time was that they were deeply concerned for their souls. This is significant because this is not what we could say of many in the church today.

Would people describe us in this way? That our one true desire is to be in right relationship with the Lord? Is everything that you do designed to bring glory to God and enjoy Him forever? If you are not accomplishing this goal, does it cause such a deep dissatisfaction, which, until it is resolved, makes you willing to sacrifice your most precious worldly treasures?

When we read of men like Martin Luther, John Bunyan, Charles Spurgeon, Jonathan Edwards, and Charles Wesley, it was this kind of concern for the things of God that caused them to accomplish the great works they did even if doing this work caused them greater adversity in this life. Christians were who they were. It wasn't merely one aspect of their lives, but every fabric of their being was encompassed by their relationship with Christ. It drove them to study, write, understand, preach, and to pursue holiness.

How do we line up with this? Is our Christianity something we do on the side to help us pursue a comfortable life, or is it our entire life’s focus? One way to examine ourselves in this matter is to look at how often we think about this world not being our home. How often do we speak about our true home? “For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland.”

Today may we examine ourselves to see what we truly desire. Do we so desire to be with our Father that even the greatest pleasures of this life leave us longing for Him? Or have we become so entranced by the comforts of this life that we no longer desire to be bothered with the things of God? For many who bear the name Christian resemble little of those whose greatest desire is to be with the Father in Heaven.

Because of sin, this world has been subjected to futility by they very hand of God (Rom 8:20). The futility we sense even in the midst of our greatest days is to serve as a constant reminder that we truly are strangers and exiles on this earth, for to be heavenly minded makes us zealous and of the greatest earthly good.

When people look at who I am,
Let them see my one desire.
To bring glory to the lamb,
And of your work to never tire

On my own I'd surely fail
Therefore strengthen by your grace
make my life to then entail
the desire to see your face.

-Doug-