The past 4 weeks have been a whirlwind. Our youngest daughter had flown home for a visit. "Home" is in South America. Melissa was born there. She grew up there. And, to a large degree, her heart is in her home country of Peru. It's her delight. When Melissa speaks of it, her eyes light up; there is an excitement in her voice. You know how it is. You remember the foods, the sounds, and the sights of things that bring you to that nostalgic point in your mind.
As we rode together through the twisting streets of Lima, I reminded Melissa and one of her friends that our true home is ahead of us. We are part of the celestial family. Our citizenship is in heaven. Home--our true home--is with the Lord.
Now the Lord was wise in how he set things up. He knows us. The Lord Jesus told us a little about how heaven would be (John 14). Then he said, as it were, "Don't worry, guys. I am sending you the Comforter to be with you till we see one another again." "The Comforter" is the Holy Spirit. Among other things that the Holy Spirit is for us, is that word that Paul used in 2 Corinthians and Ephesians: "the down payment." He is a sample of what is awaiting us.
This is my point: the Holy Spirit of God keeps us yearning for "home." If he did not reside within us, I fear we would wander off, carried away by the interests and cares of this world. We would not be interested in, or longing for, the presence of God. We would not be further motivated to encourage others to turn to Jesus for salvation. We would forget, both where we came from and where we are headed.
But Paul said in 1 Cor. 2 that, even though it has not entered into the mind of man what "home" is really like, the Holy Spirit reveals that to our spirit. He whispers about the beauties of heaven. Sometimes I think he fairly shouts it to us. He taps us on our spiritual shoulders when we get too distracted with the things around us, pointing "upward" to heaven.
In short, keep thinking of home. One day we will, I hope, meet one another there. One day we will see that the wait has been worth it all.
2 comments:
I can relate a lot to your daughter. Being a TCK myself I have often struggled with the whole thing about where is my home? As the years continue to fly by, more and more, heaven is becoming my true home. The homes of this world are constantly changing. People come and go. There is little stability. Yet in Heaven, we know that we will find the longings of our heart and finally be HOME!
Right on, Mr. MK. I think I hear the archangel warming up, by the way...
Post a Comment