“Dear Brothers, you are only visitors here. Since your real home is in Heaven, I beg you to keep away from the evil pleasures of this world; they are not for you, for they fight against your very souls.” 1st Peter 2:11 (TLB)
When we travel out of our country, we are required to carry our passports with us. They provide proof of citizenship and insure us the right of return. It is understood that we will leave for a short while, and then return to the country we belong to and love.
The Scriptures teach us that Earth is not our home. Peter tells us we are only visitors here. In Philippians, Paul tells us we are citizens of Heaven, and eagerly await Jesus. The Word tells us we are strangers in a strange land. That is the reason that believers always feel like we are trying to swim upstream against the traps and snares of the world. It is because we don’t belong here! Our souls long to reclaim the hopes and the dreams we left there.
Everyone carries a passport. Some carry a passport issued by the world. They do not hear the voice of the Shepherd, do not long to see Him, and do not follow His Laws. Others carry a passport issued by Heaven. They long for the moment that they will be free of the pain and baggage of this world. They see each new sunrise as taking them one day closer to Heaven.
On Judgment Day, we will present our passports to Christ. Will you be horrified as you realize you are facing eternity without God, or will you rejoice as Jesus takes your hand in his nail scarred hand and leads you to go see the Father. If there is any doubt about which one you carry, you should reach into your jacket and make sure you are carrying the right one.
Copyright 2007 Timothy E. Davis