Home is Where the Heart Is

Chapter 8 addresses a common thought- this world is not my home. While it felt like a bit of review, Alcorn takes time to stress again that Heaven is a physical place. The language used by Jesus of a house with many rooms is a good indication that Heaven is physical. But what are we to do with the sinful, ruined world that we wake up to each day? There is a tendency to ignore everything around us and "focus" on the eternal home. What a sad way to wait out the Christian life! Without a doubt, the sin that surrounds us should cause us to look Heavenward. We should not be in love with the passing pleasures of this world. But we should never disconnect ourselves from this world. Jesus commands us to go and make disciples. Where? IN THE WORLD (Matt. 28:19-20). God gave Adam dominion over the earth and that responsibility remains after the Fall (Gen. 3:17-19). It is evident that we have stewardship in this world, both spiritually and physically. Now I am not a tree hugger by any definition, but I do see in this chapter a call to evaluate how we view the world around us. It is so easy to get discouraged with the filth and ungodliness around us. If we are honest with ourselves, it is easy to get drawn into the same. We must first repent of our wayward hearts and respond properly. The world needs Christians who understand correctly the state of the earth, where it originated and where it is going. We need to keep a proper view of God's plan for the earth in order to guard from watching everything unfold aloof and disconnected. Yes, the world is a sinful place, but that is one reason we are still here. May God guide and protect us in our own relationship with the world.