Temporary Residence

Articles

Derek Long
09/22/19 - The Right Attitude

Temporary Residence

By Derek Long

If you have lived in very many places throughout your
life, you understand how it is easy to view the place you live as
a temporary residence. If you thought you were only going to
live in a place for a short time, you might be less likely to put
down roots in the community, etc. The Bible calls upon us to
view our physical life as though it is simply a temporary
residence and look for something greater.
Abraham serves as an Old Testament example of
someone who saw his earthly existence as a temporary
residence of sorts. Hebrews 11:8-10 says, “By faith Abraham
obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he
would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing
where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise
as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob,
the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the
city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.”
Abraham was called to leave his homeland and go to a land.
God promised to give the land to him and his descendants but
Abraham did not divert his focus to acquiring the land of
Canaan. Abraham’s primary focus remained on a heavenly city.
Hebrews 11:13-16 says, “These all died in faith, not having

received the promises, but having seen them afar off were
assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were
strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such
things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if
they had called to mind that country from which they had come
out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they
desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not
ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for
them.” Abraham realized his truly homeland should be heaven
rather than Canaan.
The New Testament speak of our existence in this life in
terms of dwelling in a tent. Peter viewed himself as dwelling in
a tent he shortly must put off. 2 Peter 1:13-14 says, “Yes, I
think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by
reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just
as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me.” 2 Corinthians 5:1, 4
teaches us we all our really simply dwelling in a tent presently,
“For we know that if our earthy house, the tent, is destroyed,
we have a building from God, a house not made with hands,
eternal in the heavens ... For we who are in this tent groan,
being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but
further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life.”
The image of a tent is our physical body is simply a temporary
residence. If one was to contrast a tent with a building, a
building would be a more permanent structure. As Christians,
we need to be longing for a time when we can leave the
physical body (this tent) and go to our eternal reward (a
building from God).
The fact the Bible calls us sojourners and pilgrims
should remind us we are simply temporary residents here.

1Peter 2:11 says, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims,

abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”
Sojourners and pilgrims are on the way somewhere else and
simply passing through. Philippians 3:20 reminds us where we
ought to be headed. It says, “For our citizenship is in heaven,
from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus
Christ.” Our true home as a Christian is not in this life but in
heaven.
How should realizing this life is a temporary residence impact
us?
• Do not put down roots. It is important we do not lay up
treasure on earth but instead to lay up treasure in heaven
(Matthew 6:19-21; Luke 12:21).
• Do what we know to do today. The fact life here is short and
limited we need to make the most of the opportunities we are
given to do the things God commands us to day (James
4:14-17).
• Do not become distracted with the care of this world (Luke
8:13).
• Look forward to and eagerly wait for a time when we will
leave this life and go on to our reward (Romans 8:23-25;
Philippians 1:21-23). We should be excited about the Lord’s
return if we realize we are only temporarily here (Titus 2:13;
2 Peter 3:12).