I think that many born-again believers forget that this is not our home. We are pilgrims on a journey through a foreign land on our way to our true home, in heaven with the Lord. We live like we will be here forever. We are constantly accumulating more and more things. So many have to have the latest whatever. They have every new gadget out there. Theirs is a life full of stuff and distractions. I get it, there are so many fun things out there. So many new “toys” for us to put our money and time into. But, is that really what we should be doing?

We most assuredly are supposed to be telling others about Jesus. We are supposed to live in such a way that the unbeliever notices the difference between us and the rest of the world. We are supposed to be a peculiar people. 1 Peter 2:9 “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”

Are you peculiar? Do you live in such a way that those around you are scratching their heads because you are not caught up with all the glitter of this world, all the stuff of this world? You keep your heart and your mind on things from above. Yes, we have to have certain things to survive. We need money to purchase those things we need. It isn’t that we cannot enjoy life, but we should not be storing up treasures here on earth, accumulating more. Matthew 6:19-21 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

I do not want my heart focused on this earth. I do not want so much stuff that the thought of leaving it makes me feel sick. I do not want to live in a way that says I have it all. I want to live in such a way that I remember this is not my home. This stuff that I have is borrowed for my time here. I want my ears attentive to the voice of the Holy Spirit and my eyes searching the sky for his appearing. I do not know the day of his returning, and neither do you. He tells us that he will return like a thief in the night. Matthew 16:15 “(Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!”)

Matthew 24:43 “But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into.”

We need to be vigilant and make sure we are not so caught up in this world that we look too much like it. Things do not satisfy for long. We enjoy it for a few weeks and all the glitter is gone for us and then we need something else to occupy us and make us feel important. When I see so many of those who say they are God’s children chasing this world and all the fancy bobbles it offers, I feel sad. I pray that their hearts are right with God and that they are truly ready for his return.

Live simply, love extravagantly, laugh often ( it makes the journey more bearable), do kind things, help others, forgive freely and instantly (remembering we need forgiveness daily)…and lastly watch for him, listen to the Holy Spirit. He is coming back, are you ready?