Part of remembering that we are pilgrims is to realize that this is not our home. Like so many, I have a habit of becoming a squatter. You see, a squatter is one who stops where they are and takes up residence. In other words, they squat. What’s worse, squatters aren’t content with merely squatting by themselves, they work hard to get other pilgrims to squat alongside them.
The Christian life is not about taking up residence here on this earth. Our home is in heaven. Why is it then, that we put so much work into making this home so comfortable? If I was truly eager to be home, I would be traveling light, ready to get home as soon as possible. In fact, I wouldn’t even be taking up residence. My eyes would be looking toward home.
At the end of many of my military deployments, we were cautioned against “get-home-itis” as it could cause us to lose focus on the issues at hand and instead begin looking toward home. In combat, this is a bad thing. But maybe not. Aren’t we in combat now? Scripture tells us: “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” Ephesians 6:12. Perhaps if we had a wartime mindset, we’d be less content with our current condition and focused more on the struggle in front of us.
Trouble is, we do become focused on the struggle in front of us – but it is the wrong struggle. Perhaps we begin to look to our finances, or our job, or title, or accolades, or entertainment, or hobbies, or sports – the list goes on – as our satisfaction. We wonder why these things don’t satisfy. And then of course, comes the problems, like heath scares, or family problems, or worse. And we can’t begin to imagine what life in our new home will be like. Perhaps we even forget that we have a new home, and begin to believe that this is where “God wants us.”
Frankly, I have to admit that I have been troubled by this for some time. So much so, that I forgot something so basic about the journey. God said that we would have joy. Joy in Him! How foolish of me to lose sight of that. My joy isn’t found in jobs, or money, or music, or reading, or titles, or rank, or position. Not even my family. My joy is found in God alone!
So how do I get it back? Here are three steps I am going to try to follow:
1) Confess the sin of joylessness. Psalm 61:2, “…when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is hiogher than I.”
2) Pray that God would restore the joy of obedience. Psalm 40:8, “I delight to do your will, O my God.”
3) Go and do. 1 Samuel 15:22, “Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice.”
See you on the journey.
