Homesick for Heaven

By Bill Dillon

Christians can never be at home in this world below. It was said of G. Campbell Morgan’s father: “He lived with a Bible in his hand and his face toward a better world.” Such is a worthy slogan for any Christian!

Does not the thought of going to heaven thrill us anymore? John said, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the list of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world” (1 John 2:15-16).

Unfortunately, the church has changed from her first century, out-of-this-world mentality, to our present day at-homeness with the world and all the slop that is in it. We have ceased to look for the Lord from heaven, and we have settled down comfortably like Lot did in Sodom. We have forgotten that we have no home down here. We sing, “set our affections on things above, not on things of the earth” (Colossians 3:2). We must not seek great things for ourselves (Jeremiah 45:5), but “seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). Demas, once faithful and fruitful, began to feather his nest in this mundane sphere (2 Timothy 4:10). Did Demas perhaps end up with stocks and bonds? By contrast, the only stocks and bonds Paul could boast of were the ones on his feet and hands.

At any rate, the time is far past that elders begin to once again be true shepherds of the flock of God and lead us to meaningfully sing, “My heart has no desire to stay Where doubts arise and fears dismay.”

    Let none of us settle down in the fleshpots of Egypt or the barnyards of this world. The real estate on earth is too costly. While Christians have no continuing city here, we seek one to come. Let us be homesick for heaven.