This World is Not My Home...

The older I become the more I embrace the great hymn of the faith This World is Not My Home. There are several reasons. As I observe world events, it seems to me that conflict, violence and wars are increasing, not abating; despite the best efforts of diplomats. Unbalanced, crazy people hold power and positions of influence that impact the entire global community. Tension on the Korean peninsula is at an all-time high since the Korean conflict. Muslim extremists are hell-bent on destroying Western culture with their now new strategy of a thousand cuts. Within our own borders, our country seems to be more polarized than ever before. The United States appears to be equally split between traditional thinking Americans and the more progressive way of thinking. Since graduating from seminary, it has been my experience that there exists a greater and growing hostility toward a Christian/biblical world view. Tolerance has been redefined from everyone is entitled to their own opinion to you must give my world view equal footing with yours or you are intolerant. This obviously negatively impacts a world view that believes Jesus is the only way and hope for a desperately fallen and broken world. Even within the church, many Christians have been impacted by a culture that is oftentimes characterized by a lack of respect for legitimate authority, as well as a sense of entitlement: “I have a right to…. I am entitled to….” The reality is that we are entitled to absolutely nothing in this life. Scripture is clear in telling us that the earth and everything in it belongs to the Lord. (Psalm 24:1) It is solely by God’s grace and mercy that we even live, breath, are forgiven and called God’s children through faith in Christ. The Good News is that Jesus is the hope of the world and God is working to bring about his purpose, though from our current vantage point we may not be able to readily perceive this. Though for now in this life we serve the one true God in an imperfect world, we nevertheless look forward to a future reality where there will be no more tears and no more sorrows: "This world is not my home, I'm just passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door And I can't feel at home in this world anymore."
​Keep the Faith,
Pastor Tony