“There is a great deal of difference between the desires of heaven in a sanctified man and an unsanctified. The believer prizes it above earth, and had rather be with God than here… but to the ungodly there [seems] nothing more desirable than this world; and therefore he only chooses heaven before hell, but not before earth.”
Richard Baxter
This world is God’s creation and we are to enjoy all of His creation. He has placed us here with His beauty all around us. It’s easy to get lost and caught up with the things of this world and forget that there is a destination for each of us beyond our city, our state, our nation, this planet and this universe.
A quick glance at a history book will reveal to us that one day we will be history too. We are here for a short period and then gone. James points us to this fact in James 4:14 when he writes “you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” We know how long a mist tends to stay around and it’s a very short time.
We are just a speck in time, hardly even a dot in history. We sometimes live with the idea that tomorrow is far away. In reality, tomorrow may not even greet us because it is not promised. So how we live and what we live for is extremely important.
There is a line in an old Christian song that says “this world is not my home, I’m just passing through”. This is true for each of us, believers and non believers alike. It’s an undeniable fact that we all must wrestle with.
The real goal of our lives points beyond this place and beyond the grave. While we are here it’s easy to set our sights on this life and the things we can gain as if they are made of gold. We may think the things we are pursuing are far better than the things that lie ahead of us in eternity. Sadly, many don’t even have thoughts of eternity.
But this world is not your home, and you really are just passing by. So what is your desires? For the believer, nothing in this world is great enough to keep them here. We have a home far beyond what our imagination can comprehend. And we will be welcomed by a Father so glorious, righteous and holy that we will never fully understand, even after an eternity of eternities.
As Baxters quote says, the believer desires heaven above the earth. But the ungodly will only desire heaven above hell if given the choice between the two. Their true desire is this world and its offerings.
So what do you desire? Do you have thoughts of eternity and where you will reside? Do you desire heaven and to be at home with the Creator? Or is your primary desire wrapped up in this world?
The believer clings to Christ and longs to be with Him and leave this world behind. The unbeliever desperately clings to this life and would desire nothing more than to live this life forever.
This world will pass away for each of us. We will one day face the reality of eternity. We have another home after this one and we will enter into it no matter how hard we grip to this current life. This world is not our home, we are just passing through.
Hebrews 13:14 “For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.”
No King but Christ 