Longing for a Better Homeland
Pastor Tan Thai · Jan 9, 2011
This sermon reflects on the pilgrim nature of the Christian life, with heaven as the true and better homeland. Drawing from Hebrews 11:13-16, the pastor calls the congregation to set their hearts on eternal things rather than temporary earthly possessions.
The sermon opens with striking statistics about refugees worldwide, particularly the Vietnamese diaspora, to introduce the central theme: believers in Christ are also spiritual refugees. The pastor argues that no one leaves their homeland unless they believe the new place is better, and similarly, Christians leave behind their old life of sin to look toward a far superior heavenly homeland.
Drawing from Hebrews 11:13-16, the pastor examines the faith of Old Testament figures such as Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, and Jacob. These people all died in faith without receiving the promises, yet they regarded themselves as strangers and pilgrims on earth, always looking toward a better homeland in heaven. Abraham's refusal to allow his son Isaac to return to his former homeland illustrates a firm commitment to never look back. The pastor also cites Revelation 21:4 and John 14:2-3 to paint a picture of heaven as a place free from suffering, tears, and death.
The pastor presents the grim realities of the present world to remind the congregation that earthly life is far from perfect. Statistics on poverty, human trafficking, war, illness, and national debt reveal the instability and limitations of earthly existence. The image of Angkor Wat, once a great wonder now standing in one of Southeast Asia's poorest nations, illustrates the temporary nature of all earthly achievements. No one can take material possessions into death, and after death there are only two destinations: heaven or hell.
To answer why believers should invest in heaven rather than earth, the pastor employs the philosophical argument of Blaise Pascal known as Pascal's Wager. If God exists and heaven is real, then the believer gains everything; if God does not exist, the believer loses nothing, having already lived a joyful and wholesome life according to Scripture. In contrast, the unbeliever stands to lose everything if heaven and hell are real.
The sermon concludes with a practical call drawn from Matthew 6:19-21 and 6:31-33, urging the congregation to store up treasures in heaven and to seek God's kingdom first. The pastor emphasizes that wherever one's treasure is, there the heart will also be, and therefore believers must clearly identify their true homeland as heaven and live with renewed spirits, always oriented toward eternal things.