This World Is Not My Home
-Introduction
-Last Sunday evening, we focused on Abraham.
-We addressed the fact that God called Abraham (then Abram) from his
homeland, Ur of the Chaldees, and led him to the land of Canaan.
-We addressed the fact that God gave Abraham some precious promises.
-Of course, the promises given to Abraham would be continued through Isaac.
-Yet, in Genesis 22, we find that God tested the faith of Abraham by instructing
him to sacrifice Isaac.
-We noted that there were no indications of questioning or hesitation on the part
of Abraham. Instead, he arose early the next morning and began the three day
journey to the land of Moriah to the location specified by God.
-Abraham didn’t change his mind but simply submitted to the will of God.
-He would have sacrificed Isaac had the angel not stopped him.
-What faith! How could a father have so much faith that he would be willing to sacrifice
his son? Again, the answer is found in Hebrews 11:17-19.
-For this particular lesson, let’s notice some more information from Hebrews 11
regarding Abraham and others - information that’s important for us today.
-Heb 11:8-10, 13
-There’s No Place Like Home
-Even Hollywood understands that there’s no place like home. When Dorothy left her
familiar surroundings of Kansas, she discovered the colorful, fascinating and mysterious
land of Oz. After all of her adventures in Oz she departed with these words...There’s no
place like home. There’s no place like home. There’s no place like home.
-example of vacations: There may be times when we get to go to some beautiful,
fascinating and very enjoyable places. Yet, after a while, isn’t it nice to be back home?
-If you’ve been away from family, then you certainly know what it is like to long for
home.
-I certainly enjoyed being at Green Valley Bible Camp. It is a special place. Yet,
during the week, I was looking forward to coming home to my family.
-Even though Abraham was in a place that God had led him to, he realized that it wasn’t
home.
-Acts 7:5, Heb 11:9 - “soujourned”
-Abraham was content with being a stranger in the land.
-Do We Feel At Home In This World?
-1 Pet 1:13-17
-I think we need to be reminded of the fact that we, as faithful Christians, are truly
strangers upon this earth.
-I’m afraid that we sometimes feel too much at home in this world.
-danger of putting our focus on the things of this world
-danger of becoming too comfortable with the ways of this world
-danger of becoming too involved with the pursuits of this world
-Matt 13:22 - Becoming too involved in the world hinders our producing of fruit for God.
-Rom 12:1-2
-1 Pet 2:11
-Phil 3:13-21 - (vs 20 - conversation [KJV] = citizenship [NASB, NIV])
-As faithful Christians, we have a home in heaven right now. We’re just not there yet.
You see, we are away from home.
-Summary and Invitation
-Delmer’s story: part of the D-Day invasion during WWII, throughout the war - longed
for home, boat ride back to US after war was over, seeing the Statue of Liberty come
into view, receiving a hug from a big sailor who was a stranger, the sailor’s tearful
words - “Welcome home soldier. Job well done.”
-We are currently involved in a spiritual battle. When our fight is over and we’re able to
go home, it is the Savior who will be there waiting for us...to welcome us home.
-Do you have a home awaiting you in heaven? For that to be the case, you must be
obedient to the Gospel of Christ:
-Believe (John 3:16, 8:24), Confess your faith (Matt 10:32, Rom 10:9-10), Repent of
your sins (Luke 13:3,5; Acts 17:30), Be baptized into Christ (Mark 16:16, Acts 2:38),
and walk in newness of life (Rom 6:4, Eph 4:22-24).
-If you’ve obeyed the Gospel in the past, have you remained faithful? If not, confess
your shortcomings, repent of them and pray for God’s forgiveness (1 John 1:7-9, Acts
8:22-24).