Friends
Are you a “Wizard of Oz” fan? It’s one of my all time favorite movies. I don’t have a pair of ruby red slippers, but today, I am in step with Dorothy as I click my heels together and declare, ”There’s no place like home! There’s no place like home!”
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My father’s house has many rooms. If that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.
John 14:2-3 – NIV
We took the final right hand turn, and there it was, just waiting. The white columns stood at attention, the red bricks and black shutters poised in salute. Amid the gentle breeze of an autumn evening, the trees issued a wave of welcome, and the flowers stood up with a smile of celebration. Yes, the house was waiting, waiting for us.
I leapt out of the truck and practically skipped up the driveway, my eyes focused on a long awaited sight, the beauty of my very own back door. Bounding up the steps, I stuck the key in the lock and threw the door open wide.
Poised on the threshold, my smile was a mile wide. Then it came, that long intake of breath, that deep sigh of relief. Home! I was home! Home sweet home!
We pulled out of the driveway on August 16th, camper in tow, headed northwest. Nine weeks and 7440 miles later, we pulled back into the driveway, so relieved to see our little house again. It was a spectacular cross country trip, and I promise to share more about it next week, but this morning, I just have to share how awesome it is to be back home! You know how much I love to travel, yet, one well worn statement remains true. It’s always good to go away, and it’s always good to get back home.
Home, what a blessing it is to call a place home. What a glorious gift it is to have a place where we belong, a place of comfort, a special spot of security. Indeed, it is a tremendous blessing for which we must give our steadfast and sincere thanks.
As I pondered this deep sense of relief I experienced at returning to this familiar place, a thought struck me. Is this what it will be like in heaven? When I reach the gates of heaven, will I pause and exhale that deep sigh of relief? Will my burdens slip from my shoulders and my troubles simply float away? Will my eyes be filled with wonder and my soul flooded with joy? Will love surround and peace abound?
Yes, I think so. More than that, I believe it. Yes, I believe our heavenly homecoming will be glorious. It will be beyond anything we can even imagine. Jesus gave us a promise, a promise that He left this earth to go and prepare a place for us, that we might be with Him forever. Just ponder that for a moment. We will live forever wrapped in the amazing love of Jesus. No more worries. No more tears, or fears, or pain. Only joy, and peace, and light.
Yes, breathe that in. Believe it. Believe that what lies ahead for us is far better than anything we could ever hope for in this life. No treasure, no earthly pleasure can compare with what awaits for those who believe. Nothing can compare to the promise we have in Jesus.
I don’t know what heaven will look like, but maybe, just maybe, my little homecoming experience is a taste of what it will feel like. Welcome. Relief. Belonging. Freedom. Joy. Peace. Amazing Love. Wow! Kind of fills your heart with hope, doesn’t it?
Oh, home sweet home! Enjoy your special place today and remember to lift up your thanks. As we enjoy the pleasures of this earthly life, may we not lose sight of the hope of heaven. For now we see as in a mirror dimly, but then we will see face to face (1 Corinthians 13:12). Yes, friends, the promise is true. On that blessed day, we will finally be home, and it will be glorious.
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‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”
Revelation 21:4 – NIV
PRAYER
O Lord Jesus, it is because of Your grace that we know the hope of heaven. You laid down Your life for us. You paid the price for our destructive ways. We are redeemed by Your love, saved by Your grace. The promise of heaven is ours because of You. O Lord, we see dimly now, but then we will see face to face, and it will be glorious. Thank You, Lord! All hail the power of Jesus’ Name!
In the Holy Name of Jesus, we give thanks and praise,
Amen
Blessings,
Anita
-APS 10/25/2021
Faith Beyond Sight 