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Growing up, a lot of my decisions revolved around the future I wanted for myself. I remember going with my family to look at million dollar homes thinking to myself, “This is the type of home that I would want - diamond chandeliers and a double circular staircase."
I knew that there was a price that I had to be willing to pay in order to purchase my dream home. My heart and mind were set on doing whatever it took to live the life that I wanted. I knew that if I aimed high enough, I would surely get something similar to the house of my dreams.
I don’t think that anyone would disagree that this is how most of us live. Working day in and day out for the amazing house that we are proud to call home. A majority of people work their entire lives to be able to finally purchase their home in their 60s. One could even make the argument that we spend more time focused on our home than we do on life itself.
The interesting thing about Jesus Christ is that He was the most important man to ever walk the earth, but never had his own house to call home. Oftentimes, my family and I would vacation in several different places. One thing we never did on vacation was look for homes in that area because we knew that our stay would be temporary. Possibly, Jesus felt the same way.
"14 Yet you do not know [the least thing] about what may happen tomorrow. What is the nature of your life? You are [really] but a wisp of vapor (a puff of smoke, a mist) that is visible for a little while and then disappears [into thin air]." - James 4:14 AMPC
Perhaps Jesus never came to this earth anticipating having His “dream home” because He knew that He was going back to something much better.
The interesting thing about Christians today is that we claim to have a home in Heaven, but constantly revolve our lives around our homes on earth. We see in the Bible, however, that many people sold their homes and uprooted their lives at a moments notice for Jesus Christ.
"32 Now the company of believers was of one heart and soul, and not one of them claimed that anything which he possessed was [exclusively] his own, but everything they had was in common and for the use of all. 33 And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving-kindness and favor and goodwill) rested richly upon them all. 34 Nor was there a destitute or needy person among them, for as many as were owners of lands or houses proceeded to sell them, and one by one they brought (gave back) the amount received from the sales 35 And laid it at the feet of the apostles (special messengers). Then distribution was made according as anyone had need." - Acts 4:32-35 AMPC
Did all of the believers come together becasue they craved to be homeless? Or did they finally find something that made them crave their home less?
A thought comes to mind — If you are proud of the home you have on this earth, maybe that’s an indication of where your heart is.
"19 Do not gather and heap up and store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust and worm consume and destroy, and where thieves break through and steal. 20 But gather and heap up and store for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust nor worm consume and destroy, and where thieves do not break through and steal; 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also." - Matthew 6 :19-21 AMPC
God is saying not to put thought into being rich in this life or worry about constanlty making additions to your house but instead to focus on being rich in good deeds and placing your heart and mind on a place that will neither rust nor rot.
Seeking comfort for today will more than likely lead to discomfort for tomorrow and perhaps eternity.
"24 But woe to (alas for) you who are rich (abounding in material resources), for you already are receiving your consolation (the solace and sense of strengthening and cheer that come from prosperity) and have taken and enjoyed your comfort in full [having nothing left to be awarded you]. 25 Woe to (alas for) you who are full now (completely filled, luxuriously gorged and satiated), for you shall hunger and suffer want! Woe to (alas for) you who laugh now, for you shall mourn and weep and wail! 26 Woe to (alas for) you when everyone speaks fairly and handsomely of you and praises you, for even so their forefathers did to the false prophets." - Luke 6:24-26 AMPC
We see in the bible that the great men and women of faith who came before us were able to press forward, forsaking riches, kingdoms, and material possesions in pursuit of real treasures.
"14 Now those who say such things make it clear that they are looking for a country of their own. 15 And if they had been thinking of that country from which they departed [as their true home], they would have had [a continuing] opportunity to return. 16 But the truth is that they were longing for a better country, that is, a heavenly one. For that reason God is not ashamed [of them or] to be called their God [even to be surnamed their God—the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob]; for He has prepared a city for them." - Hebrews 11:14-16 AMPC
The Question of the Day: Have you centered your life around something that Jesus never had?