Frankly Speaking
"All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong." Where I Belong-Building 429
I have always loved to sing this song, but the words just don't ring true to me anymore. I understand what the artist is trying to say - that he feels out of place in this world and is eagerly awaiting to live in his eternal home in heaven. Aren't we all? But I believe that we need to realize that this is our home for now and we do belong here because God brought us into this world and has "determined our pre-appointed times and the boundaries of our dwellings" Acts 17:26. We have a purpose here. Jesus instructed us to "love our neighbors as ourselves" and "go and make disciples." When we purchased the home that we currently live in we knew it wasn’t the house we would grow old in yet we have cared for it and have taken possession of our neighborhood by loving our neighbors and discipling them. God also gave us dominion (Genesis 1:26) and authority (Luke 10:19) over this place we are to call home. We walk our neighborhood regularly, praying and interceding for those around us. This world needs us, it needs us to take ownership and exercise our God given authority over the demonic principalities that have taken it hostage. We need to love our home enough to fight for it. Yes, He is preparing a place for us when we die, but this is our home now. We need to quit focusing on Jesus' return, treat this world as our own, and go about the Father's business, here and now.
"It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping". Mark 13:34-36
Pastor Frank Dodson
"All I know is I'm not home yet
This is not where I belong
Take this world and give me Jesus
This is not where I belong." Where I Belong-Building 429
I have always loved to sing this song, but the words just don't ring true to me anymore. I understand what the artist is trying to say - that he feels out of place in this world and is eagerly awaiting to live in his eternal home in heaven. Aren't we all? But I believe that we need to realize that this is our home for now and we do belong here because God brought us into this world and has "determined our pre-appointed times and the boundaries of our dwellings" Acts 17:26. We have a purpose here. Jesus instructed us to "love our neighbors as ourselves" and "go and make disciples." When we purchased the home that we currently live in we knew it wasn’t the house we would grow old in yet we have cared for it and have taken possession of our neighborhood by loving our neighbors and discipling them. God also gave us dominion (Genesis 1:26) and authority (Luke 10:19) over this place we are to call home. We walk our neighborhood regularly, praying and interceding for those around us. This world needs us, it needs us to take ownership and exercise our God given authority over the demonic principalities that have taken it hostage. We need to love our home enough to fight for it. Yes, He is preparing a place for us when we die, but this is our home now. We need to quit focusing on Jesus' return, treat this world as our own, and go about the Father's business, here and now.
"It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch. Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning— lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping". Mark 13:34-36
Pastor Frank Dodson