Text: 2 Corinthians 5:1
Paul described our lives on earth as TEMPORARY; yet we have an ETERNAL home in heaven. It is important that we understand this. This world is NOT our home; our real home is in heaven. In this lesson, we will contrast these two homes and consider how this reality should cause us to live.
What Is Home?
- A place of comfort (Ps. 132:1-5) – David vowed not to enjoy the comforts of home until the temple was built
- A place of security (Gen. 19:8) – Lot argued that his house was to be considered a place of safety
- A place of love (Ephesians. 5:25; Titus 2:4) – this was the ideal that God placed upon the home
- A place of family (Proverbs 25:17) – primary place for family; others may enter, but they are exceptions
Our Temporary Home
- Temporary and imperfect comfort – always work to be done (1 Timothy 5:13-14); houses don’t remain comfortable if not maintained (Ecclesiastes 10:18)
- Temporary and imperfect security – there is a degree of security (Matthew 24:43), but we are never completely safe (Matthew 6:19; 12:29)
- Temporary and imperfect love – love is commanded and taught (Ephesians 5:25; Titus 2:4) because love is often lacking or it fades
- Temporary and imperfect family – family is important; yet loved ones pass away (Hebrews 9:27); family is full of fallible people (Romans 3:23)
Our Eternal Home
- Eternal and perfect comfort – tears wiped away (Revelation 21:4); pain from this life will be perfectly comforted; no further pain
- Eternal and perfect security – nothing that doesn’t belong will ever enter that home (Revelation 21:27; 22:15)
- Eternal and perfect love – God is love (1 John 4:8); we will be in His presence (2 Corinthians 5:6-8; 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17)
- Eternal and perfect family – even if none of our earthly family is there (Matthew 10:34-36); our spiritual family will be (1 John 3:1; Matthew 12:46-50)
Our Lives As Pilgrims
- Remember where our true home is – our citizenship is in heaven (Philippians 3:20); recognize that we are strangers and pilgrims (1 Peter 2:11)
- Live in such a way as to reach that home – as pilgrims, God expects us to live a certain way (1 Peter 2:12); we will be judged for this (2 Corinthians 5:10)
- Use the time wisely that we have here – make the most of our time (Ephesians 5:15-16); fill it with fruitful labor (Philippians 1:21-24) wherever we are
Conclusion
- We must never lose sight of the fact that “our citizenship is in heaven” (Philippians 3:20)
- But we must live in such a way that we will get there – by doing the will of the Father (Matthew 7:21)
- We do not want to hear, “I never knew you, depart from me” (Matthew 7:23)
