On the way to work, you notice an interesting SUV. The owner is clearly a person of deep loyalty. The spare tire mounted on the back sports a black vinyl cover with the words “Texas Longhorns” over an orange, steer-head icon. The trailer hitch displays another long-horn steer and the word “Texas.” On the bumper is a sticker that reads “Texas National Champions 2005,” again in orange and black. The license plate frame is bordered with the words “Longhorns” on top and “University of Texas” at the bottom.

But something doesn’t add up. That license plate frame surrounds a black-and-white “Georgia . . . on my mind” license plate with an orange peach shining through. You live in Georgia, and the SUV’s license plate shows that this driver now does, too. You assume she has moved, but has not yet identified with her new home. In fact, it would appear that she has no plans of doing so!

That’s understandable human behavior. When we move, we often go through a slow transition of loyalties to our new home. Looking back is often easier than looking ahead.

As Christians, we have been accepted into the Kingdom of God. But the kingdom of this world does not leave our hearts easily. We must overcome divided loyalties and fully identify with God’s eternal kingdom. We also find ourselves looking forward more than we look back.

Seventy-five years for our conference marks a milestone worth celebrating, no question. God has blessed the Georgia-Cumberland Conference in ways that would overwhelm our pioneers. We celebrate His goodness and thank Him for His guidance. Yet, we are not satisfied. It is because “This world is not our home, we’re just a passing through.”

Heaven is more than a nice idea, more than a comforting notion when times are tough. Heaven must be our transforming point of reference, changing the way we
relate to everything in this present world. Heaven is our destination, our objective, our real home.

“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal,” 2 Corinthians 4:18, NIV.

Ed Wright
President, Georgia-Cumberland Conference