Are You Looking Forward to Going Home?

Tom had recently changed jobs when he bumped into an old friend, Bill.

After exchanging greetings, Bill said, “Hey, I hear you got a new job.  How do you like it?”

Tom shook his head and said, “It’s the absolutely worse job I’ve ever had in my life!”

“Really?  Well, how long have you been there?

“Oh, about three months.”

“Then why don’t just quit?” asked Bill. 

“No way,” exclaimed Tom.  “This is the first time in 20 years that I’ve actually looked forward to going home!”

Have you ever felt that way?  Oh, not about your job or going home.  But about this place, planet earth, that we call home?

In the last month or so, we haven’t watched very much TV.  Meetings, vacations, company, VBS, deadlines on projects have all contributed to less TV time.  Plus, we’ve enjoyed some nice down time just sitting on the deck and enjoying time together.

Interesting, I noticed the first time I check in with “what’s going on in the world,” not a whole lot has changed!  There’s still fighting in the Middle East, Terrorist threats abound, the President and Congress are not getting along, and there are big problems on our Southern border.  I suppose the only changes are that some things are worse than they were.

New commentators and pundits are telling us that America is in big trouble.  I would agree.  But not just because of the social, political, or economic issues facing us.  We are, and have been, in decline morally.  For quite a while. Look around at Post-Christian America, and here’s what you see:  Disrespect for the sanctify of life.  Disregard for God’s marriage laws.   And disdain for Biblical values.

Add to that the personal pressures we all face trying to live a faithful Christian life.  The Devil is still at work tempting and trying us.  Enticing us with the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life.  Sin is our constant challenge.  It’s consquences are discouraging.  Depressing.  And devastating.  Not only in the lives of others.  But in our own lives as well.

Kinda makes you yearn for home, doesn’t it?  Home?  Yes, the real home of the Christian.

The apostle Peter addresses Christian who had been displaced by the persecution that threatened them.  (1Pet. 1:1-5) He called them “pilgrims of the dispersion.”   Like seed that were scattered  throughout “Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia” which is modern-day Turkey.

They faced problems.  Challenges.  And even, what Peter called “the fiery trial.”  But they were “God’s elect.”  They enjoyed sanctification of the Spirit.  And by God’s great mercy they had “been born again to a living hope.”

Their hope was not a change in Roman rulers.  Or government programs.  Or social change.  Their hope was in their heavenly home.  Peter said they were promised an “inheritance  incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven…”

These Christian sojourners had a home they could eagerly anticipate going to.  Imperishable.  Undefiled.  Unfading.  And they had a reservation!  They could count on it!  And so can we.  It is founded on the solid rock of Jesus’ resurrection.  His victory over sin, death and devil is basis of our “living hope.”

So, for the time being, we live here.  We work.  We plan.  We play. And we pray.  We enjoy God’s creation.  We seek to be salt and light, in spite of worldly people who seem not to care.  But we know that is not our home.  We are Christian pilgrims.  Aliens.  And exiles.

Until God calls us home, we will trust in God’s power to protect us.  Keep us.  And fulfill Jesus’ promise: “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you?  When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:2-3,NLT)

Are you ready to go home?

–Ken Weliever, The Preacherman