Movin' On Up

While traveling, an investor stopped off to visit a friend and notable stockbroker with whom he had corresponded through the years.  Following the directions given, he arrived at his residence - a small apartment complex in midtown.  He rechecked to make sure he had the correct address and then rang the doorbell, where he was greeted with a warm smile and a familiar voice.  He entered a small living room area with very modest furnishings and decor. There was hardly even a picture hanging on the wall. After some conversation, the visitor remarked, "You know, Frank, this place has great potential....why not invest some money and remodel?  
New furniture, carpet and wall coverings would make this place look really nice!"

The stockbroker softly replied, "Not a very wise investment, Jim.  You see, this place is not my home!  I'm just living here temporarily while my home is being built.  My energy and focus are centered upon that permanent residence.  In the meantime, it doesn't make sense to invest a lot of time and resources in this place only to leave it all behind.  Why, the title deed has already been transferred into my name - see, here's my new address!  Besides, I don't want to get too comfortable here, knowing that I will eventually move out of this temporary apartment and into my permanent home."

Look around you.  EVERYTHING that you see is only temporary!  One day it will ALL be gone (2 Peter 3:10).  If we have placed all of our energy and focus on those things that are material and temporary, we will have made some bad investments!  Fully aware of these things, the Apostle wrote, "So we fix our eyes 
NOT on what is SEEN, but on what is UNSEEN.  For what is SEEN is temporary - but what is UNSEEN is eternal.  Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an "eternal house" in heaven, not built by human hands.  Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling" (2 Corinthians 4:18 - 5:2).

God has prepared this "heavenly dwelling"  for THOSE who will submit their lives 
to Him. Our "opportunity"  to live in this eternal home was "purchased"  by Jesus, 
when He died on the cross for our sins (1 Peter 1:18-19). A "deed"  to this heavenly home awaits THOSE who BY FAITH: (Hebrews 11:6), repent of their 
sins (2 Corinthians 7:9-10), confess Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), are 
baptized (immersed) for the forgiveness of their sins (Acts 2:38), and CONTINUE to walk in the light of His Word (1 John 1:7).

Where is YOUR focus?  Are you spending your time and energy "decorating" your TEMPORARY abode?  Or, are you planning to spend an eternity in an ETERNAL home prepared by Jesus for His own?

Listen to His words: "In my Father's house are MANY mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  - I go to prepare a place for you! -  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also" (John 14:2-3).

David A. Sargent / M. Eddlemon

Church of Christ at Creekwood 
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama  36695

To Subscribe to "Living Water" send a blank e-mail to:

                      HTML version:  subscribe-livingwater@lyris.dundee.net
                   TEXT version:  subscribe-livingwater-text@lyris.dundee.net

Follow this link to locate the church of Christ nearest you: www.churchsearch.org

Archived issues of "Living Water" can be accessed from our website at: www.creekwoodcc.org