Temporary Residence

2 Peter 3:10-18 “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up. Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless; and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures. You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.

You may have heard of the cliché “Life is a journey”, or “We are just passing through”, which raises a few questions: (1) Why on earth are we here?, (2) What am I supposed to do here?, and (3) Where does this journey end up … what is the destination? I’m sure that you can come up with a couple more too. Maybe, a more accurate description would be the word “Sojourn”, which means to dwell for a time; to dwell or live in a place as a temporary resident, or as a stranger, not considering the place as his permanent habitation, per the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary.

1 Peter 2:9-12 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may 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, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy. Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.”

There is quite a difference perspective and reality between “temporal” and “eternal”. The Christian must live in the reality of the eternal perspective of heaven as the destination and our permanent home. The Lord put us here and now for His purposes; not to be “led away with the error of the wicked” temporal and perishing, but to live aligned with God’s holy Word, Will and Way, making a difference as a disciple of Christ and witness for Christ. Stand firm and steadfast as you grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This old cliché is wise: “Have a light hand on this world.” This is a temporary residence; Heaven is our eternal home. Live like it.

In Christ, Brian