Reminders of Home

The other day, I'll admit it, I was a grumpy gills. I was rushed the entire day as I ran random errands that came up on short notice and allowed an even shorter time frame. As I was driving, I saw a truck with this logo printed on the side:

 

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Apparently the logo belongs to a bottled water delivery service. What caught my attention, however, was the Kentwood part. You see, until high school, I lived in a city called Kentwood. I hadn't thought of the my old home in ages, but upon seeing that truck I was immediately transported back to my childhood. I remembered summers of water gun fights and bike rides with my brother; I pictured my old dog Max and our iguana Zeek. I thought of friends, sleepovers and memories made. And just like that, my day was turned around. 

 

Can I suggest you do the same thing when you are having a rough day? When your day gets too busy and hectic, when you can't think of anything accept your growing to-do list and needs to meet, would you just take a minute to think of home? Not your home on earth, but the home Jesus himself said he was leaving the earth to prepare for you (John 14:2-3).

 

This home is already written on your heart. Paul got it right when he said to the Corinthians: "Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed we will not be found naked" (2 Corinthians 5:2-3). On this earth, a very piece of what we were made to enjoy is missing. When Adam and Eve chose to sin, sin entered into the world and destroyed our perfect communion with our Creator. We were meant to walk by his side in a more beautiful home than you could ever imagine and, because of sin, we miss out. Thankfully, God loved us so much that he sent his Son to bridge that gap and allow us into his presence once more (John 3:16) if we confess our sins, accept his sacrifice and commit our lives to him (Romans 10:9-10). But until we reach heaven, we are missing out on our true home. Do you notice that on some days? Do you turn on the news and cringe? Does it feel wrong to see loved ones die? This world is broken. And through tragedies or catastrophic events, we are reminded of just how homesick we truly are. We are homesick because "we are looking forward to a new heaven and new earth where righteousness dwells" (2 Peter 3:13).

This all sounds well and good, but how can we think of a place we've never seen, right? John offers a pretty good description in Revelation 21 when he says, 

"And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, 'Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. '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'" (vv. 3-4).

Can you imagine? No death, no tears, no pain? Take a minute to breath that in. Sounds like heaven doesn't it?

Perhaps your imagination doesn't do heaven justice. If that is the case with you, look to what you know. I will be the first to acknowledge that this world is broken and ugly, but within that brokenness, there are moments of beauty that seem untouched by evil. Take the example David offered when he said, "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the works of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech, night after night the reveal knowledge" (Psalm 19:1-2). Need to be reminded of home? Look up. Look to the clouds or the stars. Watch as trees move in the wind. Set your eyes on a sunset over a lake. Listen to birds as they chirp their melodies. Remember the first time you held your child or heard it cry. Watch as squirrels chase one another upon a tree. Creation still reveals God's beauty, and it holds just a glimpse of what heaven has to offer.

When the world gets busy or life becomes disappointing, remember that this is not your true home. Live in it, work with the world and play your part, but do not forget that there is more up ahead. If you know Jesus as your Savior, remember that there will come a day when this old world passes away and something perfect replaces it. Look around you and notice the glimpses and join with the sons of Korah when they say "How lovely is your dwelling place, Lord Almighty. My soul yearns and even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh cry out for the living God... Better is one day in your courts than thousands elsewhere" (Psalm 84:1-2, 10). Remember your home and remember your reward if you remain faithful to the God of this beautiful creation.