This World is Not My Home...I'm just a passing through...
Remember that old song? I remember singing that song all through my childhood and young adult life. It’s been awhile since I’ve heard it. It was brought to mind recently.
Let me preface this post by saying, “I am proud to be an American”, and I enjoy living in the United States of America with all the privileges that includes. I was born here, grew up here, and I’m still here! I enjoy living here.
BUT... THIS WORLD (USA included) is NOT MY HOME!
This country was birthed on the HOPE of religious freedom. And while this freedom may have been interpreted beyond our forefathers intent – none the less, it is a freedom many other countries do not allow.
However, I do believe that the “Christians” freedoms will be slowly and subtly removed. While we are required to be tolerant of stated Biblical sins, we are not recipients of that same tolerance by “others”. I believe this is only going to escalate as time marches on.
The recently elected President is by the “people’s choice”. There is a generational change taking place. Our world as we have known it is soon passing. We don’t know what changes await us. I do not FEAR these changes. I personally know the one who is in ultimate control.
My concern is not in whom our country VOTED in as President, but my concern is if WE, the CHURCH, are ready and how WE the CHURCH will handle this change.
I am concerned for our YOUTH—Church and World. We must not let down our standards, give up teaching our doctrine, or compromise our beliefs in any way.
We must not lose our HOPE of a better place, greater than this world that’s being prepared for us (and I’m not talking about a mansion filled with “possessions”).
This change is going to precipitate the “sifting” of the Church like never before. We will be tried, tested, and persecuted. We will learn where our true priority lies. We will learn what is MOST important to us. I pray it’s not our homes, cars, clothes, and all the extra trappings this World throws at us as necessities.
I do believe there is coming soon, a time when we won’t give those “things” a second thought or glance. The TRUE BELIEVER will have risen above the materialist greed this World offers.
We will find that simply gathering together in small or large groups for prayer, praise, and worship of the MOST HIGH will provide our JOY and will be our greatest priority.
Oh yes, I know... We are in this world (but not of it). I have to go to work to pay bills and feed my face and buy gas for my car... but these are only for my earthly, fleshly existence.
As one grows older and sees the changes taking place and reviews the changes that have already taken place in their own life span... then you begin to realize, this is truly HISTORY in the MAKING and you begin to contemplate what the future has in store.
That’s when PRAYER becomes the only solace for the heart. We travail for our children, grandchildren, family, church family, and the lost of this world. Only true intercessory prayer is going to SAVE the LOST of this generation. The “pull” of this world is both subtle and strong at the same time. PRAY for OUR CHILDREN, they are and will face a World we’ve never known.
I leave you with these scriptures:
- 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 & 17-18
- 8 We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
- 16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. 17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; 18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.
- John 15:19
If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. - John 17:14
I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. - John 16:33
These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. - 1 John 5:4
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. - 1 John 2:15
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. - John 9:5
As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
(This was written in the wee hours of post-election morning. I was unable to post it online before leaving for work.)
