Oh, how distracted and deceived, are we, by the world.
When we seek wealth, when we seek notoriety, when we see the world as the physical, when we seek debate, when we harbor the political, when we admire celebrities, when we place theology above the supernatural, media above the Holy Spirit, loud instead of quiet, proud over humble, the opulent above modest, the seen above the unseen, we have lost sight of our true calling and the place of our origin — where we actually and eternally belong.
Watch out for everything that has “world” in it.
“All these died in faith,” says Hebrews 11: 13. “They did not obtain what had been promised but saw and saluted from afar. By acknowledging themselves to be strangers and foreigners on the earth, they showed they were seeking a homeland. If they had been thinking back to the place from which they had come, they would have the opportunity of returning there. But they were searching for a better, a heavenly home. Wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.”
Constant are those who in close calls with death have glimpsed just such splendiferous “cities” and come back — virtually to a man — with the conviction that earth indeed is a temporary, a fleeting issue, a trial place, a place — as Scripture says; so fleeting! — not of permanence but exile.
We belong not here. We belong to the Lord. We belong in Heaven. It is the place of our origin. Yet, we reject that when we are blinded with the physical constructs and labyrinths and lures of a mere planet. Let this be a lesson of Advent.
The noise deafens us. We are slaves to technology.
As the Lord said, in words heard by the great Christian author Sarah Young, “Keep your focus on Me. I have gifted you with amazing freedom, including the ability to choose the focal point of your mind. Only the crown of My Creation has such remarkable capability; this is a sign of being made in My image.”
Focus: direct your gaze always and before all on He Who has prepared your true destiny.
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[resources: What You Take To Heaven]