Passing Through with Purpose

“If you call God your Father, live your time as temporary residents on earth.” 1 Peter 1:17 (GW)

This world isn’t my home. I've heard that idea before, but have I really thought about it? As a follower of Jesus, my home is not on earth. My homeland is in heaven, and my identity is rooted in eternity.

Most people will only be spending 70, 80, maybe 100 years here on earth—but I'll be in eternity for the rest of time. While I'm on earth, I'm simply an ambassador on a short-term assignment. 

Consider political ambassadors. They live in a foreign country as a representative of their home country. But that foreign country isn’t their home. So they don’t settle in there. They live as temporary residents, focused on their mission.

The same is true for myself. Here on earth, I'm living as an ambassador for Jesus. But I'm just passing through this world; I was made for eternity in heaven.

The Bible says it this way: “If you call God your Father, live your time as temporary residents on earth” (1 Peter 1:17 GW). Here, the Bible is basically saying, “Don’t get too comfortable living in this world. You’re just an ambassador here. Your role is to represent Jesus and to share the Good News with everyone around me.”

In Philippians 3, the Bible compares unbelievers to believers: “They think only about this life here on earth. But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives” (Philippians 3:19-20 NLT).  

It’s easy to get caught up in the here and now—to work to accumulate wealth or power or prestige. But Jesus’ followers should have a different priority, an eternal priority.

That priority is to tell unbelievers the Good News about Jesus.

Second Corinthians 5:20 says it clearly: “So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is as if God is calling to you through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God” (NCV).

God has left me here on earth to be his ambassador. Go tell someone else about him today!

In summary:

As a follower of Jesus, I’m reminded that this world is not my true home—heaven is. My time on earth is temporary, and I’m here on assignment as Christ’s ambassador, representing Him and sharing His message of hope. Just as a political ambassador lives in a foreign country without settling in, I’m called to live with an eternal perspective—focused not on earthly success, comfort, or possessions, but on fulfilling God’s purpose. The Bible reminds me that while unbelievers focus on this life, my citizenship is in heaven, and my mission is clear: to share the Good News and help others find peace with God.

Bottom line:

This world is not my home—I'm a temporary resident and Christ’s ambassador, called to live with an eternal mindset and share God’s message of hope with others while I'm here.

Next Step:

Intentionally live and lead with eternity in view—to let my daily actions, words, and influence reflect my true identity as a representative of God’s Kingdom.

Practically, that means:

Begin each day asking, “Lord, how can I represent You well today—in my work, my words, and my relationships?”

Looking for opportunities to mentor, encourage, or spiritually influence someone in my circle—modeling leadership that lifts others toward purpose.

Reassess my current commitments and goals: do they align with my eternal mission or only short-term comfort?

By leading with an eternal mindset, I'll not only stay grounded in who I am, but also multiply my impact in helping others discover why they’re here too.