For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21
“The world, to a man of God, is but a beautiful prison; nor can he love his fetters, which detain him there, although they be made of gold. He sends his heart to heaven before his body is set free.”
Thomas Watson in Puritan Gems; or, Wise and Holy Saying of the Rev. Thomas Watson, Anglican Minister. edited and arranged by the Rev. John Adey (London: Snow and Ward, 1850) 21-22.
Someone asked me recently how many nights I spend in someone’s home or a hotel over the year. To get his attention, I answered, all of them, 365. He looked at me in shock and said, “Really? You are never at home?” I answered reciting the first verse from the classic hymn, “This World Is Not My Home” by Jim Reeves.
This world is not my home
I’m just a-passing through
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
Then I told him that I travel about 200 nights a year and my wife is with me about 50 of those. He said that it was a lot. But I reminded him that time is short.
God could choose to release me from this beautiful prison today or many years from now. Since I don’t know how much time I have, I will live each day to the fullest.
And I was talking with another friend who is 67 years old and has lived in the same house for over 30+ years. He said he was dreading simplifying. They may be attached to it.
He lives in, as Watson would say, a cell in this beautiful prison. We all do. This life is temporary so we must not get too attached or leave our stewardship responsibilities to others.