On Assignment

Is anyone familiar with the lyrics of this catchy hymn? “This world is not my home, I’m just a passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue. The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore. O Lord, You know I have no friend like you. If heaven’s not my home, then Lord what will I do? The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door and I can’t feel at home in this world anymore.” Do you ever feel like the writer of this song? The Word of God says we are strangers and pilgrims in this world. I’ve heard many a testimony of those who yearn for heaven. Did you know that our physical body is just our “earth suit” in order to live here? Just as an astronaut has his “space suit,” to live in space, we have an “earth suit” to live on earth. The real “us” is our spirit. We are speaking spirits. Our true self is our spirit that is encased in this temporary tent called our body and our true home is heaven. We’ve just been sent here on assignment. Albert Edward Brumley penned “This World is not My Home,” the classic hymn written on October 29, 1905. He wrote over 800 gospel and sentimental songs that were printed in excess of 15 million copies in sheet music and hymnals. Interesting to note, Brumley wrote his most popular song, “I’ll Fly Away” while picking cotton. He left home at the age of 20, arriving on the doorstep of E.M. Bartlett, owner of the Hartford Music Institute with no money to his name. Bartlett asked him how much money he had for room and board as well as tuition to which he replied nothing for either. Bartlett kindly took him and not only gave him free room and board, he also received free tuition. Not long after, his risk paid off with Brumley eventually becoming one of Bartlett’s finest staff songwriters. Later in life, Brumley bought the Hartford Music Company and it is still operated by Brumley’s son, Robert today. Today we seem to be so earthly minded, we are no heavenly good. Too often we get caught up with “... the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things enter in and choke the word, and it proves unfruitful.” Friends, we are here on assignment: to bring heaven to earth! We are meant to preach the Kingdom of God... living in the Kingdom. The religious world has taught us that the Kingdom of God is another word for heaven, but they are sadly mistaken. We can live in the Kingdom of God here and now on this earth. “...God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” We are to fulfill the Great Commission. Jesus left us with a “commission:” “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” Believers, let’s live our lives with focus and vision and fulfill all He’s called us to do!