"This World is Not my Home"
Introduction. Do you recognize this title? It is a popular song we sing in our worship to God. It expresses our confidence in God’s promises. We are praising Him because “He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” We now “proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light who once were not a people but are now the people of God” (2Th. 2:14; 1Pet. 2:9-10).
A Change in Citizenship. This song is our confident affirmation that we are no longer citizens of this world. “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” “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” (Col. 1:12; Phil. 3:20-21).
Before we obeyed the gospel, we were “without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:12, 19).
“This world is not my home” because as my father Abraham before me, I now dwell here “as in a foreign country,” “waiting “for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:8-10). They “confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” We along with them “say (and sing) such things” because too want to “declare plainly that they seek a homeland.”
Before we obeyed the gospel, this world was all there was. Now we know “My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;” so “I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.” When we sing these words, we are expressing that we “desire a better, that is, a heavenly country” and as our fathers before us, “therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (Heb. 11:13-16).
A Need to Take Inventory. But when singing this song it is important to take an inventory. Can we still make “melody in our heart?” No one is exempt from the danger they faced. “If they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.” We don’t want to return either!!!
A Need to Take Action. We need to follow the example of Moses who “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.”
Hence if we are going to sing this song with honesty and integrity we must “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." So “having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2Cor. 6:17; 7:1).
Conclusion. Never forget, “since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.” (2Pet. 3:11). When we believe all this, who can’ sing with joy and conviction: “I can’t feel at home in this world anymore!”
A Change in Citizenship. This song is our confident affirmation that we are no longer citizens of this world. “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love.” “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” (Col. 1:12; Phil. 3:20-21).
Before we obeyed the gospel, we were “without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.” “Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God” (Eph. 2:12, 19).
“This world is not my home” because as my father Abraham before me, I now dwell here “as in a foreign country,” “waiting “for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God” (Heb. 11:8-10). They “confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” We along with them “say (and sing) such things” because too want to “declare plainly that they seek a homeland.”
Before we obeyed the gospel, this world was all there was. Now we know “My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;” so “I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.” When we sing these words, we are expressing that we “desire a better, that is, a heavenly country” and as our fathers before us, “therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” (Heb. 11:13-16).
A Need to Take Inventory. But when singing this song it is important to take an inventory. Can we still make “melody in our heart?” No one is exempt from the danger they faced. “If they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.” We don’t want to return either!!!
A Need to Take Action. We need to follow the example of Moses who “refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to share ill treatment with the people of God, than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.”
Hence if we are going to sing this song with honesty and integrity we must “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you." So “having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2Cor. 6:17; 7:1).
Conclusion. Never forget, “since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness.” (2Pet. 3:11). When we believe all this, who can’ sing with joy and conviction: “I can’t feel at home in this world anymore!”