Saturday, November 18, 2006
Hebrews 11:16 But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.
HOMESICK FOR HEAVEN
Have you ever been homesick? It's a lonely, empty feeling, isn't it? When you're homesick you feel like an outsider -- as if you don't belong. When you're homesick you count the days, the hours, the minutes until you finally get to go home. You long to be back in the familiar, warm surroundings of your home and family.
Christians get homesick for heaven. This world is not our home. We desire a better, that is, a heavenly country.
As pilgrim travelers, we just don't fit in. Christ calls His followers to seek treasure in heaven, to love one's enemies, to serve God and neighbor. In contrast, the world is all about gaining earthly wealth, getting even, living for self. Christ teaches us to set our minds on things above, to think about that which is lovely, pure and noble. But here we are in a world which delights to gorge its mind on images of sex and violence. The world loves darkness, while we Christians love the light of Christ's saving truth. Oh, how it all makes us want to go home!
But as a soldier is sent far away from home to serve king and country, we are put in this world to serve our King and Savior. God "desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth" (1 Timothy 2:4). We are here to speak the Gospel so that many others may become homesick for heaven as well.
And when this world seems too much for us, we remember Jesus' promise: "I am with you always." When we long for home, we open up that heavenly care package, namely, God's Word. In its wonderful promises of forgiveness and salvation, we find a taste of home. We find strength to keep serving our Crucified and Risen Lord. In the meantime, we cast a longing eye ever upward.
And I shall surely stand There at my Lord's right hand.
Heaven is my fatherland, Heaven is my home.
