Depending on how this word is enunciated it is either a location or a spoken oration. Our topic will pertain to a location.
What is in an address? A set of characters numeric or alpha numeric, a direction, a street of some sort, city, state, and zip code. This information ties directly to a hard and fast location that is somewhat permanent. I say somewhat permanent because the physical building can be torn down and replaced perhaps by a larger complex which removes some addresses completely.
This semi-permanent structure will through time have different persons call it their address if the structure is residential. The people can then move on to call another temporary location as their address if they move to another one. If the structure is a business then many persons will flow through it and claim its address as their employer’s location.
We also have a spiritual address. As we see with Abraham…
“It was by faith that Abraham obeyed when God called him to leave home and go to another land that God would give him as his inheritance. He went without knowing where he was going. And even when he reached the land God promised him, he lived there by faith—for he was like a foreigner, living in tents. And so did Isaac and Jacob, who inherited the same promise. Abraham was confidently looking forward to a city with eternal foundations, a city designed and built by God.” Hebrews 11:8-10 NLT
So as the writer of Hebrews says we are sojourning aliens on this world and we are looking to move to another city built by God. Our semi-permanent address is this earthly shell which will be replaced as Paul says in 1 Corinthians…
“For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.” 1 Corinthians 15:53 NLT
So let us remain steadfast in the knowledge that our present troubles and sufferings are temporal and tied to our temporary residence…
“For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” 2 Corinthians 4:17 NLT
So let us rejoice…
“Be happy about it! Be very glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were persecuted in the same way.” Matthew 5:12 NLT
Be blessed…