by Rich DuBose
No matter where you live or which country you call home, you are a temporary resident. Your time on earth is limited. None of us knows how long that will be. Whether we are young or advanced in years, our lives are tenuous and uncertain. Unexpected Illness, accidents, war, crime, and the inevitable aging of our bodies, all make life on terra firma anything but predictable.
One time the apostle Peter told a group of first century believers, “Get rid of all evil behavior. Be done with all deceit, hypocrisy, jealousy, and all unkind speech” (1 Peter 2:1 NLT).
Then he said, “I warn you as ‘temporary residents and foreigners’ to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls. Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world” (1 Peter 2:11-12 NLT).
The message here is, “You’re just passing through, so wherever you are, live like you don’t belong.” This doesn’t mean we shouldn’t be good neighbors and contribute to the well-being of our communities, or that we shouldn't try to make a positive difference in the world. We should do these things, with the understanding that our presence is temporary.
We are foreigners because “ in Christ” we speak a different language and identify with different values from the ones practiced here.
Several years ago I wrote a song titled, “Heaven’s Banner” that describes the temporariness of our situation:
Heaven’s Banner
I’m a citizen of this country,
I was born in the USA
As child I lived in the south far away
Now a place in California
Is where my head is laid,
But I know that I’m not here to stay.
I’m not here to stay.
Since I was a child,
My loyalties have changed,
My heart strings have loosened on this world.
I hunger now for friendship
With those who feel the same,
And I long to see a different flag unfurled,
A different flag unfurled.
Oh the banner, heavens banner.
Heavens banner over me is love.
I am searching for a city
Whose foundations are laid up above.
Whose foundations are laid up above.
Heavens banner over me is love.
This world is just a hallway
That I am passing thru
And as I travel,
I am called to love
The meaner that some treat me
The more I will forgive
In reaction to Gods mercy from above,
In reaction to his love..
Oh the banner, heavens banner.
Heavens banner over me is love.
I am searching for a city
Whose foundation is laid up above.
Whose foundation is laid up above.
Heavens banner over me is love.
The dominant vibe of today’s culture is often the whimsical pursuit of pleasure, instant gratification, and extravagant wealth—with a determination to exploit everything for personal gain. Unbridled development and consumption is a threat to civilization and the ideals of building shared communities.
Dominion Verses Destruction
When God told our first parents to have “dominion over the earth” he didn't mean for them to destroy it. His charge was a positive invitation for them to be good stewards of the incredible gifts he had entrusted them with–life, the planet, and all of creation.
“God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply. Fill ther earth, and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground’” (Genesis 1:28, NLT).
Those who embrace God’s ideals understand the earth is not theirs to exploit and trash. Rather, it is a gift from the creator’s hand that is meant to bring sustenance and delight to all.
According to Revelation 11:18, a time of reckoning will come for those who have persistently mistreated others and taken part in the destruction of the earth.
The apostle John prophetically described that time with these words: “The nations were angry, and your wrath [God’s wrath] has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets and your people who revere your name, both great and small— and for destroying those who destroy the earth” (NIV).
As the earth’s stewards and caretakers who were put here to preserve its beauty, longevity, and ability to sustain life, we need to be more respectful of what we have. The prolonged use of fossil fuels and a reckless exploitation of finite resources is a cumulative disaster in the making. The consequences of mindless consumption is coming home to roost with destructive climate events that threaten our survival.
No Room for Irreverence
Eternity has no room for people who are careless with time, treasure, and relationships. The people who are eventually gifted with Life 2.0 will be those who embrace God’s ideals.
When Jesus said, “blessed are the meek for they shall inherit the earth,” he didn’t just mean for that to be a cute quote for a refrigerator magnet. He meant that the qualities of humility and reverence are the undergirding principles of his Kingdom, and that those who manifest such qualities will be honored in the highest ways throughout the universe.
When we allow God to re-order our priorities, a new sense of reverence takes hold of our thinking that extends to the world around us. Suddenly we are mindful and empathetic in all of our dealings with others, whether they are family members, work colleagues, or the strangers we encounter along the way.
As citizens of God’s Kingdom we have a responsibility to share God’s mercy wherever we go. Jesus said, “If you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of my followers, you will surely be rewarded” (Matthew 10:42, NLT).
The Grand Finale
So, here’s the grand finale at the end of God’s “firework” display of how we are to live as temporary residents in a passing world:
“Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4, ESV).
“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12, NIV).
“We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves” (Romans 15:1, NIV).
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10, NIV).
“A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed" (Proverbs 11:25, NIV).
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy" (Proverbs 31:8-9, NIV).
“Learn to do good. Seek justice. Help the oppressed. Defend the cause of orphans. Fight for the rights of widows" (saiah 1:17, NLT).
“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8, NIV).
“In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16, NIV).
“So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" (Matthew 7:12, NIV).
Rich DuBose writes from Northern California | Photo by Atlantic Ambience, with Pexels
On the web at: richdubose.com. All Rights Reserved © 2026. Join me on Blue Sky @spiritrenew.bsky.social.
ESV: Scripture quotations marked ESV are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. ESV Text Edition: 2025. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
NIV (1984): Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.®
NLT: Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.