“for I go to prepare a place for you.”  john 14

“do not love the world, nor the things of the world.  if anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him…and the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”  first john 2

i spent the morning running errands around the white house.  it took me all of 30 minutes to drop off utility payments, stop in at the post office, grab a few groceries, and shop at the dollar store.

when people ask me about living in white house, i compare it to mayberry.  seriously.  lots of hometown folks, small local businesses, there’s history in this town.  farmland and trees.   and  i can walk anywhere i need to go.  anywhere.  

there’s always a tractor or two on the road, and there seem to be a lot of elderly people driving around in pick up trucks.  if you stop by hardee’s between 7-9, the same group of rowdy retired citizens will be there every morning to invite you into their conversation.  or argument.  or local gossip.  hehehe.

it doesn’t take much time to feel like you belong.  i mean, the crew at waffle house knows us by name.

we live next to the ballpark.  lots of noise, bright lights, cheering, and happy families (unless the team loses.) up the street and across the main road is sonic; we walk up there in the summertime for half-price milkshakes.

it’s wonderful.  peaceful.  safe.

it’s home.

except it isn’t.

as comfortable as it feels living here, i have to remember this isn’t my home.  this isn’t my stopping place.  this is simply the assignment for this season of my journey with God.  we may stay here.  we may not.  it doesn’t really matter.  what does matter is that i hear God’s voice over me during this season of living here and that i carry out His purposes for the season.

and i do that, in each season, until he calls me home.  to my real home.  my final stopping place.

my real home is in heaven.  it’s being prepared for me.   by Jesus.  right now.

yep.  i believe all that stuff in the scriptures about eternity and spending it with Jesus in another place,  after this place, completely different from this place.

we gotta be careful.  it’s so easy to settle in here.  to become distracted by the things of the world, the people of the world, the problems of the world.  to want to accumulate and build something of value that will last, something we can even pass on to our children.

except none of this is going to last.

the only thing that will last… is a saving relationship with God through Jesus.  if we can pass that on, if we can teach our children (and others) to build that, then we’ll leave behind something of real value.  something that will guide them through each of their seasons here.  something that will carry them into eternity.

oh, God, give me an eternal mindset.  remind me that everything of this world is temporary, fading away, gone in a moment.  only relationship with You will carry over into the next life.  give me eyes to see Your hand, ears to hear Your voice above all the others, and a heart that turns toward You.

i want to be ready to meet You.

teach me how to make disciples, how to throw courage and wisdom on others, how to leave a Godly heritage, so that those around me will also be ready.

for the place You’re preparing for us.