Our Eternal Home

If you're like us, you probably receive a lot of junk mail including advertisements from real estate agents who want to sell your home. From time to time, agents will even come to our door telling us how desirable our neighborhood is and how so many people want to buy in. Now I know my neighborhood and it's probably not as great as they make it seem (we have our issues with crime, people driving too fast, and loud parties), but overall it's a good place. I like our home and our neighborhood. How about you? Do you like where you live? I hope so! Whether you live in a house, condo, or apartment, I hope your home and your neighborhood is a place that you feel safe, comfortable, and secure.

In the sermon a couple of weeks ago, I noted that the Apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:20 that our "citizenship is in heaven," that heaven is our ultimate home. I believe God knows just how important a good home is to us. One that we look forward to going to at the end of the day. I can sense the warmth and compassion in Jesus' voice when he tells his disciples about their home in heaven. In John 14:1-4, he says “'Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 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. You know the way to the place where I am going.'" This was comforting to them, because, as a group, the disciples did not have an earthly place to call home. In Luke 9:58, Jesus himself said, 'Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.'” Likewise, the disciples had left their homes and families to follow Jesus ministering and proclaiming the good news from town to town.

Sometimes following Jesus means sacrificing the comforts of this world. That's how it was for the disciples. It will be that way for us at times. Jesus teaches us to hold the things of this world loosely. Our God and King was homeless while he was here on earth. A good home is important but, here on earth, it's far from guaranteed. What is guaranteed however, is our eternal home in heaven which Jesus came to secure. One that is safe, comfortable, and secure. The passage in John 14 goes on to say in verses 5-6, "Thomas said to him, 'Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?' Jesus answered, 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'" Beloved, Jesus is the way to eternal life. We are not to get comfortable here on earth nor set our minds on earthly things (Philippians 3:19). Earth has nothing on Christ and his kingdom. He is the way, the truth, and the life. We are to set our compass on him, follow him each day, and, as citizens of his kingdom, look forward to our heavenly home. 

God bless,

Pastor Darren