Made for Another House
There was nothing on the walls. For months. Actually, it took me a little over a year to tire of the blank white canvases that were the three walls of my living room. Inspiration finally rounded the corner of my mind and entered the forefront one afternoon as I was scrolling Pinterest. Little did I know, as I contemplated fixtures and furniture, that God was about to show me a picture of a reality that is far greater than the state of my current residence.
“I gotta decorate this living room,” I murmured decidedly to myself.
Before I knew it, there was a new sofa on the way along with a set of bookshelves, a mounting kit for the TV, and a whole host of decorative elements I scored from Facebook Marketplace. I only had one problem: I currently live in a rental home.
Well, it’s not a problem per se. It’s just that my taste in décor differs significantly from the style in which my rental was built. Now, I don’t mind its modern touches, light-colored wood, and subway tiles. But I prefer darker tones—deep greens, hues of black, brasses, and golds.
I had a decision to make. I could either pivot and choose to decorate with elements that complemented the style of my rental or I could go with the color schemes and patterns that I loved and let my house clash a little.
Without much hesitation, I chose the latter. As much as I appreciate cohesion, I knew that it wouldn’t satisfy my aesthetic itch. I decided to go with the dark green sofa, the black floral artwork, and brass candleholders. After all, I don’t plan on living in my rental forever. My goal is to eventually purchase my own home where the paint colors and panel accents are mine to freely choose. My new furniture will look perfect there. Until then, I’ll be meticulously arranging décor and furniture meant for a house I don’t have yet.
As I contemplated the decorating task I was suddenly in the middle of, I realized that I was living a metaphor of my life as a Christian. The two competing styles of my home are a lot like living in the Kingdom of God that has both already and not yet come. Though we are here in an earthly home ornamented with the thoughts and patterns of this world, we are called to live like citizens of another home—a heavenly one (Romans 12:1, Philippians 3:20). Though earth is adorned with glimpses of heaven in creation and in the heart of every believer in whom the Spirit dwells, we have not yet entered the fullness of the Heavenly Kingdom. Just as the decorations clash in my home, sometimes our reality seems to clash with the reality of eternity.
Scripture alludes to this collision of now and not-yet. After highlighting the faith of some of our spiritual ancestors, the author of the book of Hebrews goes on to explain in whom their faith lay. These spiritual pillars trusted that God would one day give them a home that would far exceed the ones they had dwelled in before. By faith, they lived as if they were only temporary visitors on this earth, in the assurance that God would give them an alternative and superior dwelling place.
These all died in faith, although they had not received the things that were promised. But they saw them from a distance, greeted them, and confessed that they were foreigners and temporary residents on the earth. Now those who say such things make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. If they were thinking about where they came from, they would have had an opportunity to return. But they now desire a better place—a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Hebrews 11:13–16
As I eagerly await the day that I can paint my cabinets green and install black floor tile in my bathroom, I am reminded of the real substance I anticipate—an eternal home with Christ who has adored me since before I was born. We, beloved, were made for another house, one in which the desires of our hearts will never again clash with the will of our Father in heaven. Like the chosen furniture for the house I don’t have yet, we will look perfect in our new home.
Therefore, we are right to ask ourselves if our lives reflect this truth—do we live like we were made for our heavenly home? Have we placed our faith in the One who has gone to prepare a place for us and is coming again to gather His children to Himself (John 14:2–3)? Do we live by faith in Jesus, allowing Him to lead us and to give us peace on the journey? We are free to live with an awareness that what we see now is temporary, but what will be—in another house—is eternal (2 Corinthians 4:18).
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