Treasures out of the Darkness

Where can a dead man go?  Question with an answer only dead men know, but I’m gonna bet they never really feel at home  if they’ve spent a lifetime learning how to live in Rome.

-nickel creek  “when in Rome.”

I love Nickel Creek. They are pretty much phenomenal musicians!  I was listening today and just appreciating their amazing vocal blends and instrumental melodies when the lyrics above jumped out at me, bringing me to tears!  I am not normally so easily brought to actual tears but I have had a pretty tough day!    Back to the lyrics though…. I have been really praying a lot lately about becoming a more “kingdom minded” Christian. I want to see the church as a global entity not just  the building that I go to every Sunday and Wednesday or even as  just the other local churches. I want to live a life that has more value than the amount of “stuff” I own or how much money is in my checking account, savings or investments. I want to be so detached from my “stuff” that I would not even hesitate to give it all away.  It’s not mine to begin with… I am merely a conduit God uses to disperse His blessings. I really, really don’t want the typical “American Dream” of a house and 2.5 kids and the dog. I don’t want to spend my life learning to live in Rome.  If I am so focused on becoming wealthy, I am teaching my child that is what matters most. If I esteem high paying jobs over the ones that may not pay as much but are fulfilling the call that God has placed on my life or my child’s life, I am teaching her to live in Rome.  If I am more concerned about looking good than being Christlike, I am just learning to live in Rome.

Rome is not my home, This world is not my home. I think that sometimes in our effort to be relevant and approachable  Christians, we begin to look too much like we are “home” instead of aliens in a foreign land. I am so guilty of this.  We are so immersed in this culture, that it’s like a fish in a bowl, we become incapable of grasping what life is like out of water.  My heart’s cry is to learn to live with a bigger goal than just spending all my energy surviving this life, but to get to know my betrothed, who I will spend all eternity with.

How about you? Have you spent a lifetime learning to live in Rome?