I’ve been thinking a lot about “home” since moving overseas. In some ways it feels like I have gained two homes--which is a beautiful thing. There are people I dearly love in both places, so part of my heart will always be elsewhere. Yet even though we still feel very “at home” with our families in the States, it feels strange coming back. What we’ve learned and experienced overseas alienates us from others. I’ve found myself struggling to participate in “normal” conversation because I feel like I have nothing to offer--I don’t belong here anymore in the same way that I used to. Yet at the same time, we will never feel completely at home in SE Asia either. We will always stand out, always be seen as outsiders to some degree. This can be a very challenging thing to face…
… if we think our home is on this earth.
If we are in Christ, our home is a heavenly one. We shouldn’t feel totally at home here on this earth. Philippians 3:18-20 says, “[They] walk as enemies of the Cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, and their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ…” This idea is repeated again and again in Scripture. Colossians 3:1 says, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
To be honest, it is much easier to live out these truths overseas. After being Stateside for just a short time, waiting to go back long-term, we have already started to fall into old patterns of sin--a sin that is not addressed enough here in the States: covetousness.
This is the 10th and final Commandment, listed alongside murder, adultery, and idol worship. It is a terrible sin in the eyes of God, and yet how often do we stop ourselves from wanting what other people have? We want the perfect family, home, body; we want enough money to buy nice clothes, the newest phone, the best coffee maker. The list goes on and on and on, fueled by social media. But is social media totally to blame? Or is there a nastier root, lurking beneath the surface of American culture, not wanting to be seen for what it really is?
I believe there is a generational curse on this land that needs to be broken. Our ancestors, driven by covetousness, drove the Native American tribes off of their land--leaving millions dead in their wake. Our ancestors, desiring even more wealth, stole African people from their land and brought them here, forcing them to work as slaves and telling them they were barely human. Our ancestors, labeling all of this “success” and wealth as “the American Dream”, cheated, lied, and stole their way to the top, never feeling like what they had was ever enough.
And now here we are--still striving for the “American Dream.” Yet we as believers have something so much more to offer to the world. People ask us why we are giving everything up to move overseas, thinking we are making a big sacrifice. Yes, we are choosing to lay down our fleshly desires, but in the end it won’t ever feel like a sacrifice. I have gained so much from living overseas and proclaiming His Name to the Nations. I have gained a deeper relationship with Christ than I ever thought possible, and beautiful, deeply meaningful friendships with people from different cultures who have taught me so much and expanded my understanding of the world. These friendships make me yearn for the day when we will all stand before the Throne, worshipping with every tribe, nation, and tongue. This is our hope, our future home. If this doesn’t get you excited, then maybe you’ve found too much of a home here.
If you think people who live overseas have hard, miserable lives and think living in America is the easier, better route, you are wrong. It is as simple as that. It may be easier, but that doesn’t make it better. You are selling yourself short, thinking that true happiness can be found in the things of this earth even though Paul says the opposite is true: “their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things”. If you are in Christ, you know that “it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in Him but also suffer for His sake”. It has been granted, bestowed, upon you to suffer. All suffering in the path of obedience is with and for Christ. Whether or not you feel called to live overseas, know that trying to live the most comfortable life will always leave you feeling empty. It seems counterintuitive, but it isn’t. The more you read your Bible the more you will see the value in suffering, in picking up your cross and following Him.
So when you feel yourself coveting what someone else has, pray and speak against it. Actively fight against it by giving thanks--both for the good and the hard things. This simple act of rebellion is like a kick in the shin to the enemy of our souls, and it glorifies God as we actively remind ourselves of all the beautiful gifts He has already given us. And suffering is one of those gifts, because it will draw us closer to Him and give us opportunities to tell others that we still have hope.
Our home is in heaven. This is our hope. Actively fight against the sin of covetousness, choose the path of obedience, and see how much more fulfilling life can be as we wait to meet our Savior face to face.