No Place Like Home.

Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. – 2 Corinthians 5.9 (CSB)

What an incredible shift of perspective here. The context of 2 Corinthians 5.9 is this:

6 So we are always confident and know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 In fact, we are confident, and we would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore, whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to be pleasing to him. – 2 Corinthians 5.6-9 (CSB)

Paul made this similar statement when he wrote the following to the Christians in Philippi:

21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better—24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. – Philippians 1.21-24 (CSB)

Do you look at your time here on earth as being at home or being away from home? Is now your main focus so that you live as if there’s nothing after this life? If we fail to move into this perspective found in Scripture, that our home is with the Lord, we will deplete all of our resources now for now. We will do everything we can to make this life as comfortable and meaningful as possible. And while there’s nothing wrong with finding meaning here on the earth, but mean should be connected to meaning that is connected to eternity. So if we see now as away from home and that home is actually coming when we take our last breath here on earth, we can live now purposefully and sacrificially, looking for ways to go with less so that others can have what they need. We can live first from a place of forgiveness instead of vengeance and retribution. We can live at peace regardless of what happens here, regardless of who is in power or what circumstances come our way. We can truly live out the Beatitudes that Jesus spoke about when he preached his famous sermon (see Matthew 5.3-10). And we can be solely focused on being citizens of God’s kingdom now.

But is it wrong to enjoy living on earth now because it’s not really “home?” I believe Scripture says no. We are invited to enjoy now what God has created. In fact, Paul tells Timothy that everything that God provides for us now while we are on earth is actually for our good “to enjoy” (see 1 Timothy 6.17). But maybe instead of trying to enjoy more things, we actually work at enjoying those things that are connected to the heart of Jesus. Long dinners around the table as a family. Deep conversations with others, hearing their hearts as they share their joys and sorrows. Maybe we find the joy in giving instead of receiving. Maybe we experience the blessing that comes with being a blessing to those who are most in need. You see, I’m convinced that we’re not supposed to look at everything here on earth and hate it. That would result in our not enjoying what the Creator created for our enjoyment and for his glory. Rather, we are supposed to look at everything now as wonderful, but also with the attitude that it’s not actually our home and that the best is yet to come.

So what does it mean then? If we are allowed to enjoy things on earth now, how can we also long for our home found in heaven? But maybe we should have a different focus than merely our enjoyment on earth. Look again at what Paul said in 2 Corinthians 5.9: “…we make it our aim to be pleasing to him.” The whole point of life is not our enjoyment found merely in the things that are created (even though we are allowed to enjoy what God has created). Rather, our aim is to live our lives, whether here (away from the Lord) or at home (with the Lord) in a manner that pleases him. That’s the focus of this whole thing. And what an honor it is to get to please God.

So today, thank God for the gift of today here away from the Lord. And today, long for the day with joyful anticipation for the day when we will be home with the Lord forever. And what an incredible homecoming that will truly be. Why? Because there’s no place like home.