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Lesson #4
This World Is Not My Home

     As the words of the song say, “This world is not my home; I’m just a passing thru. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue”. Jesus says, “Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:20-21). We must lay up our treasures in heaven, not here on the earth. “Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out” (1 Timothy 6:6-7). When we draw our last breath, what we have accumulated here on this earth belongs to someone else. When we die our fate is sealed and we will be judged. Many people put off being faithful to the Lord because they are too busy with their worldly pursuits. People die suddenly everyday from health related strokes and heart attacks, and from tragic car accidents and plane crashes; and without warning the vapor of life can quickly disappear.   Everyday we live we are one day closer to death and eternity. We are not promised tomorrow. Tomorrow is only a hope.

     Life passes so quickly. We must live our short life pleasing to God so we can go to Heaven when this life is over. God’s word says, "Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that’" (James 4:13-15). Many people are living their lives as though they will live on this earth forever. This life on earth is so temporary and short.

     As the words of the song continue to say, “If heaven is not my home, then Lord what will I do?” For the vast majority of people, Heaven will not be their home (Matthew 7:13-14). Their home will be real and they will be living in Hell, where they will be tormented day and night forever and ever in burning fire and brimstone (Revelation 20:10, 15). For the few whose home is Heaven, “God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).

     The apostle Paul was longing to leave this earth and go home to Heaven. He says, “For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you…For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1:23-24, 3:20).

     As mortal human beings we cannot begin to imagine how great and wonderful Heaven will be. We cannot comprehend its glory. We have, “an inheritance incorruptible and that does not fade away, reserved in Heaven for you” (1 Peter 1:4), “knowing that you have a better and enduring possession for yourselves in Heaven” (Hebrews 10:34). As human beings we are eternal in that we live forever and ever in one of two places. Our home will be either Heaven or Hell. We make the choice as to where we will go. If one is not preparing to go to Heaven, he will end up in Hell. Our number one goal in this life must be for Heaven to be our home. No one will accidentally go to Heaven.

     Man is more than physical, but is also a spiritual being. Even though our physical body dies and decays, our spirit continues to live on forever. Death of the physical body occurs when the body and spirit are separated. "For the body without the spirit is dead" (James 2:26). The word death means separation. When people die physically there is a separation of body and spirit. "Then the dust will return to the earth as it was. And the spirit will return to God who gave it" (Ecclesiastes 12:7).

     We have two appointments we will definitely keep, whether we want to or not. "And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment" (Hebrews 9:27). These two appointments cannot be canceled. Death is not the end, but it is the beginning of eternity. Eternity is awaiting each of us and we must prepare for it. Jesus says, "Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming in which all who are in the graves will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation" (John 5:28-29). We will be held accountable for how we have lived here on the earth.

     Atheists and humanists deny the existence of God, the spirit, and immortality of man. This view is responsible for the degenerate behavior among many people today. They take no responsibility for what they do and they don't really care. If one thinks he came from nothing, then what difference does it make? If people are convinced that this life is all there is to their existence, they have no fear of doing whatever they see fit. Because of our immortality, Jesus says, "Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both body and soul in hell" (Matthew 10:28). The vast majority of people will end up in Hell (Matthew 7:13-14).
     In Luke 16:19-31, Jesus teaches there is life after death, there is reward and punishment, and one is able to remember after death. Even though the body is separated from the spirit, the spirit continues to live. We must be prepared for eternity, because those who are not prepared will be eternally lost in Hell.

Questions Lesson #4
This World Is Not My Home

(Click on the button of the answer of your choice)

1) (Matthew 6:20-21) Where should we lay up our treasures?

      Here on the earth.

      In the bank.

      In Heaven.

2) Our heart will be where our treasure is.

3) (1 Timothy 6:6-7) What is great gain?

      Having a million dollars in the bank.

      Godliness with contentment.

      Owning the whole world.

4) We can carry our money out of this world and into eternity.

5) (James 4:13-15) Our life here on earth

      Will last forever.

      Should be spend in gaining material wealth.

      Appears for a little time and then vanishes away.

6) We should say "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that".

7) (Philippians 1:22-24, 3:20) What did Paul desire to do?

      Depart and be with Christ.

      Live long on this earth.

      Get much material gain.

8) If our citizenship is in Heaven, we should be eagerly waiting for the Lord.

9) (1 Peter 1:4) Our inheritance of Heaven

      Will not last very long.

      Will eventually deteriorate.

      Is incorruptible and will never fade away.

10) Our inheritance of Heaven is reserved and waiting for us.

11) (John 5:28-29) The hour is coming when

      All that are in the graves shall hear the Lord's voice and come forth.

      No one will be raised from the dead.

      The Lord will not be coming back.

12) Those who have done good will be raised to eternal life in Heaven.

13) (Matthew 10:28) Who should we fear?

      Those who falsely accuse us.

      Those who are able to kill the body, but not the soul.

      God, Who is able to destroy both body and soul in Hell.

14) We should really fear physical death.

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