Next Home
by Malcolm Wood
When moving home very few of us have the benefit of gaining access to our new property to carry out any cleaning, re-decoration, or alterations, in advance of moving in. For most of us making our ‘new’ home ‘ours’ has to be done once we are in residence.
When I recently saw a sign over a superstore which read ‘Next-Home’, I began thinking, not of another move here on earth, (we’ve recently done that), but of the home Jesus is preparing in heaven for all those who love Him (John 14:2).
The Apostle Paul reminds the people at Colosse where their true focus should be. ‘Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honour and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about things down here on earth’ (Colossians 3:1-2).
What we do and how we spend our time here on earth is affected by seeing things from a heavenly perspective. As we work out our salvation, as Paul encourages us to do in Philippians 2:12, by fulfilling our destiny, we will be furthering the work of the Kingdom of God, and thus laying up treasure in heaven.
Jesus Himself encourages us to do just that, rather than being anxious over earthly things. ‘Store your treasures in heaven where they will never become moth-eaten or rusty and where they will be safe from thieves. Wherever your treasure is, there your heart and thoughts will also be’ (Matthew 6:20-21).
At the end of his life Paul could say that he’d fought a good fight, run a good race, and remained faithful. So, with confidence, he looked forward to that devotion and service being recognised by the Lord (2 Timothy 4:7-8).
Not many are called to be ‘Pauls’, but the small things done for, and in the name of, Jesus are equally important, and will be acknowledged. Jesus says ‘If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded’ (Matthew 10:42).
“What on earth are you doing for heaven’s sake?” is a question a friend of ours uses regularly in his teaching. It may be time for us all to address that question afresh, and make whatever adjustments in our life, work and witness may be necessary.
Prayer: Dear Lord Jesus, thank You for preparing a place in heaven for me. Please help me to have more of a heavenly perspective on how I spend my time here on earth, and please help me to further Your kingdom here, for as long as I am able to. Amen.
Malcolm Wood and his wife Anna became part of the Ellel family as House Managers at Ellel Grange in 1990. Since then they have been involved with many aspects of the developing Ministry. From 2001 until 2015 they were Directors of Ellel Scotland where they hosted several International Schools and Operation Blairmore and helped pioneer the exciting Creative Inspiration Weeks. They have three sons.
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