I Don’t Belong Here

James H. Cagle
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The Bible (KJV) says, “For they that say such things (v. 13 ‘confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth’) declare plainly that they seek a country” (Heb. 11: 14). And, “For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come” (Heb. 13: 14).

Have you ever, when looking for a meeting that you were suppose to attend, open the wrong door and step into a meeting already going on and knew you didn’t belong there and was told that? You didn’t stay because you didn’t belong to that group, you didn’t belong in their conversation, you didn’t belong to their purpose. The only thing to do then is to find the place where you do belong.

The word “belong” means, “to be the property, concern, or business: with to; as, this belongs to her, or this belongs in your department.”

In this sense the Christian belongs to Jesus Christ. “Take heed  . . . to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood” (Acts 20: 28). (Col. 1: 14). And, “I am my beloved’s, and my beloved is mine” (Song of Solomon 6: 3).

The word “belong” means to be a member of a family, group, or society: with to; as they belong to the Glee club.

In this sense the Christian belongs to the body of Christ and is a member of the church the Bride of Christ. “For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink in my name, because you belong to Christ, . . . he shall not lose his reward” (Mrk. 9: 41). (1 Cor. 6: 19, 20, 12: 27; Eph. 5: 30).

The word “belong” means “to be a native or inhabitant of a place or country: as, he belongs in the East.”

In this sense the Christian belongs in Heaven, where their name is on the city register, which is the Lamb’s book of life, and because they are citizens of that city.

I don’t belong here in this world. I’m a stranger and pilgrim. I’m here to serve the Lord until He takes me home. Then I’ll walk through the gates of Heaven into a place where I belong.

The word “belong” also means be-long, “to become long, hence to stretch the mind after, to crave, to desire, to long for.” This means the Christian is homesick for and has a longing for that place where they belong.

James H. Cagle

“This world is not my home,

I’m just a passing thru,

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.”

– Albert E. Brumley

This World Is Not my Home

 

This world is not my home.

I have one that you can’t see.

I see it with the eye of faith,

And my Savior Who waits for me.

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I’m thankful for my cottage,

Beside the country lane.

A fireplace for the wintry days,

And a shelter from the rain.

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But since I met the Savior,

And trusted in His love,

He gave me a home in Heaven,

Far beyond the stars above.

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I love the beauty of the earth,

Of creatures great and small.

But greater beauty waits for me,

Inside those jasper walls.

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This world is not my home.

I can feel it in my heart.

I have the spirit of a pilgrim,

With a longing to depart.

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I have a home I surely know,

On Heaven’s street of gold.

It’s this home I’m homesick for,

And God’s glory I’ll behold.

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This world is not my home.

I’m so often misunderstood.

I seem so heavenly minded,

That I’m not much earthly good.

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I know that one day very soon,

I’ll be taken from this world,

At my death or at the Rapture,

To live inside those gates of pearl.

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This world is not my home.

I thought it was but then,

Jesus saved and pardoned me,

And Heaven’s been home since then.

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How horrible it would be,

Of not having a home above,

And not living with God forever,

Because I rejected the Savior’s love.

James H. Cagle