This World Is Not My Home ♦ Alexis Goring

Not My Home

A devotional by Alexis A. Goring

On the drive home earlier this week, my mind was inundated with the injustices, tragedy and pain in this world that we as humans experience.

As my mind delved deeper into despair, I spoke these words aloud: “Earth is NOT my home. If I can just remember that, I’ll be fine.”

And just like that, I realized that God had given me a message for this devotional with the key phrase, “Not My Home.”

People who believe in God and follow His Son Jesus Christ know that this planet Earth is NOT our home. We look forward to our true home in Heaven. It’s a perfect place free of sin and all of its side effects: death, disease, injustice, oppression, pain, etc.

There’s a Bible story in the book of Hebrews that resonates with me as I write this devotional. The story is about a man named Abraham who was called to go to a place where he would later receive as his inheritance (Hebrews 11:8, NIV). God told him to go to a foreign land and by faith Abraham went without hesitation and made his home in the Promised Land. Now the verse that speaks to my writer heart most profoundly is Hebrews 11:10 which says, “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”

As Christians that’s our eternal hope: We are looking forward to our Promised Land, “the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” How beautiful is that? God is THE Architect and Builder of our Heavenly Home. His home is peaceful and perfect because He designed it and His establishments are sin-free.

I look forward to the day when God puts a permanent end to sin. I look forward to Jesus Christ returning to take His faithful followers home. Honestly, most days it’s the only hope that gets me through. This world is getting worse, as the Bible tells us it will before Christ returns. But “we have this hope that burns within our hearts, hope in the coming of the Lord.”
(Wayne Hooper, "We Have This Hope" - church hymn)

We can rest assured that if we accept Jesus Christ’s gift of salvation and follow Him while we’re living on this Earth, then we WILL go home to Heaven with Him when He returns. We can trust that He WILL destroy the devil, the evil angels and all who follow the devil. We can know that after that final act happens, evil will no longer exist—peace and pure bliss like you’ve never known it before will reign forever.

The Bible says in Revelation 21:4 (NKJV), “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

Now that is a hope to hold onto, a promise of a better time, a better place that is not of this world! Honestly, this reminds me of the song “Another Time, Another Place” by Sandi Patty and Wayne Watson. 

So be encouraged, dear hearts. God is Good. He keeps His promises and just like He promised, He will return to take us home to that perfect place. Until then, stay in tune with Him and let Him lead you. There are so many hurting people in this world. Ask Him how He can use you to help others. He wants us to occupy until He returns (Luke 19:13, KJV). Let His Light in you shine brightly in this dark world. Let His Light lead others to His heart and inspire Hope in their hurting hearts.

Earth is not our home. Heaven is our final destination. Let’s live like it.

Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.