We enjoy making a fixed home here on earth. We buy houses and equip them with all the nice things. Nothing wrong with that. Obviously, we can enjoy our time here on earth, but we have to realise that this is only temporary.

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob also believed this: ¹³… and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. ¹⁴People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home.

When I look around me, it is clear that many people do not realise that this earthly home is only temporary. Many of them do not really look forward to the next life. On the contrary, they are afraid of death.

When you are in right standing with God, you realise that this time on earth is only temporary. But more than that. You look forward to the life waiting for those who believe in God after this one has passed.

When you look forward to the end destination, you start living differently.

Like me, my son was not a good student. Not that he didn’t have the ability to perform well, he just couldn’t sit still and study. We talked nicely, and sometimes loudly. But nothing really worked. Until I put together a sliding scale of rewards for him. And suddenly his marks improved.

When you know a reward is waiting at the finish line, you work differently and you work better.

If we know that our life here on earth is only temporary and that a wonderful reward is waiting at the end of your life, why wouldn’t you live differently? The only question is whether we will succeed in living like that?

Somebody sent me this heart-warming story about an old man who was really looking forward to life hereafter:

My dear father-in-law died last October at 86 years old. We believe it was his time to go. The last few months of his life he was quite confused, as it often happens.

Three days before his death he came shuffling in: 

“Where’s my walking stick, my girl?” (Which is what he called Mom.)
Then he stuck a Bible under his arm and picked up his keys.
“The only thing I need now is a handkerchief” (He was really disgusted with the paper towel that she first folded up for him, and said: “I can’t go there with toilet paper!”)
“Where are you going, my love?”
“Home, girl.”
“Where’s home, my love?”
“Up there, my girl, up there!”

May we also look forward to eternal life with God!

Scripture
Hebrews 11:13-16

Reflection
How strongly are you anchored to the world?
Are you looking forward to a life with God in heaven?
Does your life show where you are going?

Prayer
Lord, please help me not to focus so much on temporary things that I forget about life hereafter. Help me get my priorities right and help me live in a way that clearly shows that heaven is a reality for me. In Jesus’ Name, amen.