House vs. Home
by Tonja Taylor It took me a few decades to realize that "house" and "home" do not mean the same thing. A house is a physical structure in which we live, whether it rests on a lawn, floats on the water, or nestles inside a cave. But a home is what we all really want; a place where we are loved, appreciated, honored, and can grow. A home is a place where we feel free to be ourselves, even if it's just in our own bedroom or sitting on the back porch. However, we must remember that this world is not our home. If we have received Christ Jesus as our LORD and Savior, then Heaven is our Home--for eternity. We are on a temporary Kingdom mission while on earth--to help as many people as possible know that Jesus is alive, is Love, and wants to give them a Heavenly life--now and forever! 2 Corithians 5:1-11 (AMPC) speaks of our earthly home (body, in this sense) and our Heavenly Home (Heaven, forever with the divine, sublime Presence of our LORD): 5 For we know that if the tent which is our earthly home is destroyed (dissolved), we have from God a building, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Here indeed, in this [present abode, body], we sigh and groan inwardly, because we yearn to be clothed over [we yearn to put on our celestial body like a garment, to be fitted out] with our heavenly dwelling, 3 So that by putting it on we may not be found naked (without a body). 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan under the burden and sigh deeply (weighed down, depressed, oppressed)—not that we want to put off the body (the clothing of the spirit), but rather that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal (our dying body) may be swallowed up by life [after the resurrection]. 5 Now He Who has fashioned us [preparing and making us fit] for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the [Holy] Spirit as a guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise]. 6 So then, we are always full of good and hopeful and confident courage; we know that while we are at home in the body, we are abroad from the home with the Lord [that is promised us]. 7 For we walk by faith [we b]">[b]regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man’s relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight or appearance. 8 [Yes] we have confident and hopeful courage and are pleased rather to be away from home out of the body and be at home with the Lord. 9 Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him. 10 For we must all appear and be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]. 11 Therefore, being conscious of fearing the Lord with respect and reverence, we seek to win people over [to persuade them]. But what sort of persons we are is plainly recognized and thoroughly understood by God, and I hope that it is plainly recognized and thoroughly understood also by your consciences (your inborn discernment). So we see that we do indeed have an eternal Home with the LORD! Hallelujah! In addition, He promised in John 14:1-3:14, The Passion Translation (TPT), says: “Don’t worry or surrender to your fear. For you’ve believed in God, now trust and believe in me also.2 My Father’s house has many dwelling places. If it were otherwise, I would tell you plainly, because I go to prepare a place for you to rest. 3 And when everything is ready, I will come back and take you to myself so that you will be where I am. Truly, the ultimate Home is being in Heaven with Christ Jesus our LORD! But until then, let us rejoice that He chooses to make His home in our hearts when we receive His Spirit! Then, He is with us always, even unto the ends of the world (Matthew 28:19-20)! And what is God’s “living message”? It is the revelation of faith for salvation, which is the message that we preach. For if you publicly declare with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will experience salvation.--Romans 10:9, TPT Through books, courses, presentations, service, prayer, worship, and more, Tonja and her husband live to exalt God. Her series for girls, P.O.W.E.R. GIRL ADVENTURES, is now out (books I-V), along with LEGACY; YOUR HOLY HEALTH: VISIONS OF THE KING, and more. See the "River Rain Creative" YT channel. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |
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