The Mirror of the Word and other works by C.E. White can be purchased on her website, cewhitebooks.com or on Amazon.

“For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.” 

—Hebrews 13:14

“Don’t take your coat off.” 

Sometimes this phrase is used when we have an errand for someone who’s just walked in the door, but sometimes it’s used rudely to mean something like, “You’re not welcome here; don’t get comfortable.”

As Christians, this world often isn’t very welcoming or comfortable. We shouldn’t expect it to be. John 3:19 says, “the Light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the Light; for their deeds were evil.” If we’re walking in the Light, the world will often see us as enemies, but we’re called to bear Christ’s reproach in our own lives (Hebrews 13:13). 

Our ultimate happiness and fulfillment won’t be found here.

It’s painful to feel displaced and like the world doesn’t understand us or want what we have to offer, but we’re not alone in that.

It didn’t want Jesus either, and he was perfect. Despite rejection, false accusation, and persecution, he gave all of himself, not only to those who loved him, but to the unappreciative, the hateful, and the evil alike.

So when we can’t find our place, let’s remember that this world isn’t our home. We’re not supposed to get comfortable, for we “desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one” (Hebrews 11:16). We are “strangers and exiles on the earth” (Hebrews 11:13).

We aren’t meant to take our coats off and settle in. We can expect that this world will want to push us out, but the true blessing is coming—the eternal city with no tears, no mourning, and no pain (Revelation 21:4)—and it will be better than anything we can imagine (1 Corinthians 2:9).

November 9

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