There’s no place like home ∙∙

There’s no place like home ∙∙

We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. We eagerly await his return as our Savior. – Philippians 3:20

Acts 7:6 God also told Abraham that his descendants would live as aliens in a foreign land, where they would be oppressed as slaves for 400 years.

1 Peter 2:11 Dear friends, I warn you as aliens and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.

Hebrews 11:13 All these people died still believing what God had promised them. They did not receive what was promised, but they saw it all from a distance and welcomed it.

The Danger of Driving Close to Home

Did you know the most dangerous place to drive is near your own home? According to the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration, 52% of all accidents occur within a five-mile radius of a person’s residence, and 69% happen within a ten-mile radius. Surprisingly, only 1% of vehicular accidents take place more than 50 miles from home.

Based upon these statistics would you consider relocating? Absolutely not. These statistics highlight a pattern but don’t establish a cause-and-effect relationship. Correlation does not demonstrate causality. However, this idea of proximity raises a profound spiritual question: Where is our true home?

Citizens of Two Kingdoms

Since 1967, Americans have been allowed to hold dual citizenship, that is, carrying passports for two nations. This unique status mirrors our spiritual reality. As children of the King, where is our home? We are citizens of earthly nations, yet, at the same time, we are citizens of heaven.

Philippians 3:20 declares this truth vividly: “We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we eagerly await his return as our Savior.”

Our earthly lives, which most often span less than 100 years, pale in comparison to eternity. They’re like a single drop compared to the endless oceans. Heaven is our true and final home. The Bible reminds us we are exiles here. We may carry earthly passports or work permits, but we really do not belong here. Ultimately, we belong to the kingdom of God.

Getting our arms around this can be a life-changing perspective transformation. There’s no place like home. This realization transforms not just how we live but also how we see the world. However, being children of the King comes with challenges.

Hostility From The World

While heaven is our true home, the world can be pretty hostile to the children of the King. One way or another, we are all too often told, “Your kind is not welcome here.” In our lifetime, this animosity has escalated to outright hostility, even hatred. And what is the reason for this hatred? Is it merely because we cherish the name of Lord Jesus Christ? Regrettably, the answer is yes! But this is really nothing new.

Jesus warned us of this conflict in John 15: “If the world hates you, remember that it hated me first. The world would love you as its own if you belonged to it, but you are no longer part of the world. I chose you to come out of the world, so it hates you.” (John 15:18-19)

This rejection can feel painful, but it shouldn’t come as a surprise. As 1 John 3:13 echoes this sentiment: “Don’t be surprised, dear brothers and sisters, if the world hates you.”

For centuries, Christians around the world have faced persecution, and this hostility is growing in prominence. Though it feels foreign to many, especially in countries like the United States, the rising disdain toward those who align themselves with God is a reminder that we are not of the world.

Persecution is Prophecied

The Bible foretells that animosity toward believers will worsen in the last days. Revelation 12:17 paints a dramatic picture: “The dragon was angry at the woman and declared war against the rest of her children—all who keep God’s commandments and maintain their testimony for Jesus.”

Who are the key players in this prophecy? The Dragon symbolizes the ultimate enemy of our souls, Satan. The Woman represents Israel, the nation through which Jesus Christ entered the world.

Throughout history, the enemy has sought to destroy the Jewish people, and he has similarly aimed to thwart the work of Christ. At the cross, Satan believed he had succeeded, but the resurrection proved otherwise. So, who is left for the enemy to direct his anger and hatred toward? The dragon’s wrath shifts to those who follow Christ and uphold His teachings.

Standing Firm in Our Identity

Who is known for adhering to the commandments of the Old Testament? Could it be the religious Jews who do not recognize Christ as their Messiah? Who upholds faith and bears witness to Jesus? Could it be those known worldwide as Christians, the children of the King?

REFLECT & PRAY

At this very moment, the Lord Jesus Christ is preparing a special place for us in our Father’s house (John 14:2-6).

Father, there is no place like home. Thank You for adopting me and making me part of Your Forever Family. My home is not defined by the physical location where I live. It is where my family is.

INSIGHT

Citizens of Heaven, Aliens on Earth

Philippians 3:20 tells us, “We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we eagerly await his return as our Savior.” Yet, as citizens of heaven, we find ourselves temporarily dwelling as aliens on earth. How should we live in this foreign land?

This question is not new. God’s people have lived as exiles before. Take, for instance, the descendants of Abraham, who God told would live as resident aliens in a foreign land. Acts 7:6 reminds us that “God also told Abraham that his descendants would live as aliens in a foreign land, where they would be oppressed as slaves for 400 years.” The longing for home and the tension of living in a fallen world have always been part of the story of God’s people.

Even Peter, addressing early believers, wrote in 1 Peter 2:11, “Dear friends, I warn you as aliens and foreigners to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.”

But what does it look like to live faithfully as temporary residents? The counsel given by Jeremiah to the Jewish exiles in Babylon sheds light on this question.

How to Live as Aliens in a Foreign Land

God’s instructions through Jeremiah were clear yet surprising. He told the exiles to settle in and live fully, even in their place of exile, a land far from their true home. His words are found in Jeremiah 29:5-7: “Build homes, and plan to stay. Plant gardens and eat the food they produce. Marry and have children. Then find spouses for them so that you may have many grandchildren. Multiply! Do not dwindle! And work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your own welfare.”

What a remarkable perspective! Rather than dream endlessly of an imminent return to their homeland, the exiles were instructed to make the most of their current situation. They were to build, plant, marry, and grow. But Jeremiah didn’t stop there. He called them to an even higher standard—to promote peace and prosperity for the very city where they were exiled. Not only that, but they were commanded to pray for their captors and their city.

A Revolutionary Call

Praying for Babylon, a city that represented oppression and tyranny? It sounds absurd, even revolutionary. Yet, this principle remains timeless and holds wisdom for children of the King today. The Lord Jesus Christ Himself echoed this teaching in Matthew 5:44, saying, “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”

Why should we, as citizens of heaven, seek the peace and prosperity of the earthly places we inhabit? The answer lies in our interconnectedness. Jeremiah explains that the welfare of the exiles is tied to the welfare of the city. When the city prospers, so do its inhabitants.

This approach is both practical and deeply spiritual. Jeremiah doesn’t command God’s people to conform to the city’s standards or to seek superficial peace. Instead, they are called to actively contribute to the city’s good, all while holding fast to their identity as God’s people.

Lessons for Believers Today

History has shown that the Jewish people have followed this pattern throughout time. Feinberg notes, “What unusual advice for Jeremiah to give his exiled countrymen! History shows that in all the centuries of their worldwide dispersion, the Jews have tried to follow this pattern. They have identified themselves with the country of their residence while at the same time looking toward eventual restoration to their native land.”

Similarly, Willis explains, “This passage reminds believers that their general economic welfare is tied to the society in which they live. For this reason alone, the LORD tells them to pray for the city in which they live. They are not expected to promote or even condone the standards of their society. They are to pray for it for their own sake.”

Pilgrims Passing Through

Even now, we live as pilgrims in a world not our own. Scripture reminds us that our ultimate citizenship is in heaven and that this world is dominated by the enemy of our souls, the god of this world. We are outsiders and strangers and stand out because we have absolute values, not relative ones. We believe in Truth, not truth for now. We are called to live differently.

We are strangers in this land, marked by our firm convictions and unshakable values. We believe in timeless Truth, not fleeting cultural norms. This difference, though challenging, is our testimony to a watching world.

Called to Live with Purpose

What does God require of His children in a foreign land? He asks us to live fully, with integrity and righteousness. We are to make the most of our circumstances while holding fast to His truth. Just as the exiles in Babylon were called to build, plant, grow, and contribute to the well-being of their city, so we are called to live with purpose in the places where God has placed us.

The question we must ask ourselves is this: “Father, what would You have me do as I live here and now?”

The answer will shape how we live as citizens of heaven, even while we walk as aliens on earth. Our role is not to shrink back but to thrive, to reflect God’s love and truth, and to pray fervently for the world around us, all while keeping our eyes on our eternal home.

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© Dr. H 2025