SORRY, I'M NOT FROM HERE

102 – FEBRUARY 2012
THINK ABOUT IT


Pat and I are in Florida for the month of February and, last week, we went to an outdoor “Home and Garden” show. As we went from booth to booth, I found myself repeating “Sorry, I’m not from here!”
One vendor wanted to sell us a termite service. I told him my home was in Vermont and therefore, “Sorry, I’m not from here!”
One began to talk about a huge garage door screen and I quickly cut him short with “We really do not need that for where we are from!”
Another showed us a hurricane shelter. It was big metal coffin like box that dropped below the garage floor. It had stairs and could fit 2 or 3 people. I laughed and said “Sorry! We’re just visiting.”
Finally, my favorite! This person wanted to sell us a golf-cart-turn-around-pivot-thang. Drive your golf cart into the garage and onto this invention. Next morning, you simply pivot 180 degrees and drive out frontwards. Although my neck does not turn as freely as it used
to, I told the guy “Great invention but … Sorry, I’m not from here!”

This home show adventure was quite timely as I have begun to be a bit annoyed with “stuff”. It seems to be everywhere and I wish that, over my lifetime, I had used the “Sorry, I’m not from here!” line more often. The bible continually uses the phrase “this world” to insist that we are only here on some sort of a pilgrimage that lasts for 80-years-on-average.

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind …”

We are only passing through. We are pilgrims on a short journey through this world. Actually, we are citizens of a different world. Just visiting. Gonna go back home soon. I want to embrace this “visitor” truth in my spirit. I want to lay aside the stuff … Every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us (Hebrews 12:1).
I would like to say, in a more easy manner, “Sounds good. I’m sure it’s useful for somebody. But, sorry, I’m not from here!”

Timothy 6:7 ”For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”