Decorating My Hotel Room

Why I'm Releasing My Grip on the Temporary to Embrace the Eternal

I looked around my reading nook—at the swivel chairs, the fireplace, and my signed first editions—and had the strangest thought: I’ve been decorating my hotel room.

That thought stopped me in my tracks.

Of course, I’m not literally living in a hotel suite or out of a suitcase. But spiritually speaking, that’s exactly what I’m doing. This world isn’t my permanent home; I’m just here for a brief stay.

And yet, it’s so easy to forget that.

Hotel Rooms Aren’t Forever

Randy Alcorn once wrote, “I’m convinced that the greatest deterrent to giving is this: the illusion that earth is our home.” Bob Lotich took that truth and pushed it further, reminding us that when we live like citizens of heaven—on assignment here—our financial decisions, schedules, and priorities begin to look very different.

Consider this: if you were staying in a hotel room for a few days, would you repaint the walls? Install new double-pane windows? Upgrade the curtains and bathroom? Set up a nice sound system?

Of course not. It’s not that these upgrades wouldn’t be great ideas; it’s that they’re pointless. You’ll be leaving soon.

And yet, that’s exactly what many of us do. We invest our time, energy, and money in things that are destined to fade. We act as if we’ll be here forever, forgetting that we’re just passing through.

We often find ourselves caught in a cycle of upgrades and comparisons, driven by a desire to feel at home in a place we were never meant to stay.

There’s a quiet peace and freedom in letting go of the need to keep up. When we remind ourselves, 'This is temporary,' we can step off the treadmill of endless improvement and begin walking with Jesus in a slower, more purposeful way.

Mist, Vapor, and Vanity

James 4:14 gives us a sobering image:

“What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.”

In the grand scope of eternity, this life is but a whisper. A vapor. A hotel room with a checkout time fast approaching. And yet, we become so easily enamored with decorating that vapor—making it shinier, more comfortable, and more Instagram-worthy.

But why? Jesus suggested just the opposite: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth... But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19–21, NIV)

Those verses are litmus tests. Where is your treasure? Where is your heart?

Even the best moments on Earth—a breathtaking sunset, a delicious meal, a joyful gathering—are merely glimpses of the glory that awaits us. They aren’t the destination; they’re just postcards (remember those?).

If we treat temporary things as if they’re ultimate things, we’ll always be disappointed. But if we let them point us to embracing the eternal, they become signs that help guide our hearts home.

Living for What Lasts

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying the comforts of life. God created beauty, designed rest, and wired us to appreciate home, order, and even pleasure. Yet Scripture is clear: we are called to live with a deeper purpose and a different perspective.

Paul urged Timothy to tell the wealthy to be “rich in good deeds… generous and willing to share” (1 Timothy 6:17–19). When we live with eternity in mind, our spending, serving, and giving begin to change. The focus shifts from enhancing the temporary to investing in what will last.

Four Questions That Are Helping Me Refocus

If this all feels convicting, don’t worry—you’re not alone. I’ve been grappling with these very issues myself. Here are some practical questions I’m asking myself to help rethink both my spending and my priorities:

1. Where is my money going? (My bank statements don’t lie—they reveal what I value. Am I spending like someone who is just visiting or like someone who believes they are staying forever?)

2. Which part of my life feels “over-decorated”? (Am I investing in comforts that are crowding out my opportunities to be generous?)

3. What eternal investments am I overlooking? (Could I redirect funds toward a missionary, a widow, a ministry, or someone in need?)

4. Is my schedule reflecting Kingdom values? (Am I prioritizing time for prayer, people, and purpose—or just busyness?)

These questions help to reorient my heart. They’ve become a rhythm for checking in with God as I navigate through life.

Decorating Eternity Through Generosity

C.S. Lewis once wrote, “If I find in myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.”

We were. And we are.

Colossians 3:2 calls us to “Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.” It’s valuable advice. What if we shifted our focus from decorating the temporary to investing in the eternal?

Imagine arriving in heaven and discovering that your generosity has led to someone’s salvation, helped translate Scripture, or inspired others to give.

That’s the kind of “decorating” I want to be doing. How about you?

The beautiful truth is that God invites us to partner with Him in creating something eternal. We may not always see the results immediately. However, faithfulness doesn’t always appear impressive—it simply appears consistent.

Surrender. Obedience. Generosity. Love. These are the furnishings of heaven.

Closing Thought and a Prayer

Let’s not waste our short stay upgrading a room we’ll soon vacate. Let’s live like those who know where home really is.

Prayer:

Father, thank You for reminding me that this world is not my home. Help me to hold loosely to what is temporary and tightly to what is eternal. Teach me to be generous, courageous, and mission-minded. Show me what to release—and where to reinvest. May my life, time, and finances lead others toward You and our eternal home. Amen.