Are We Homesick?
“By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise,
(The Letter to the Hebrews 11: 9-10 NASB)
as in a foreign land,
dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob,
fellow heirs of the same promise;
for he was looking for the city which has foundations,
whose architect and builder is God.”
Have you ever been homesick?
- Have you ever gone to summer camp as a child and longed for home?
- Have you ever traveled, excitedly and expectantly, only to become disenchanted with the traveling and to become sick and wishful to just go home?
Do we long for heaven?
- As a people of God, a people of faith, do we desire eternal life apart from our earthly life?
- As a people of the KING of kings, we reflect JESUS on earth because HE IS ENOUGH!
There are seasons of life when we just desire to be home with God, not because we have a wish for death but because we have a HOPE for life forever with God. As believers, we know as Paul said, to die is to gain, to die is to be present with the Lord, & to breathe our last breath on this earth is to breath our first breath in heaven.
- Do we long for heaven—those who know earth is not our home but only the temporary place we reside.
- Do we long for heaven—those who know our citizenship is there, in heaven, with the LORD of lords.
In this time of autumn, many make reservations, as they plan for upcoming camping trips. They gather their tents, sleeping bags, camp stoves, coolers, outdoor games, & fishing poles, hoping to ‘get away’ for some R&R. Years ago, when we were first married, we purchased a tent. We have photos that allow us to reminiscence about great vacations we have enjoyed. Now, years later, we still own the same tent, one we purchased when we were first married. Just like days of yesterday, we can still gather our tent, sleeping bags, camping stove, cooler, outdoor games & fishing poles, as we head for a place under a tree where we can pitch our tent. However, just like way-back-when, after a few days of sleeping on the ground inside our tent, we long for home.
Much like camping and sleeping in tents, we are temporarily here, living in this earthly tent (our earthly body), awaiting the day when Jesus will bring us home to heaven. No, we do not have a death wish, but we definitely have a LIFE-wish, those who have chosen to believe in Jesus Christ and have accepted His free gift of salvation. We are cross-bearers, not flag bearers, knowing our citizenship is not earth-bound but heaven-bound. Pause to listen to a wonderous melody: “All the Way Home” by Baylor Wilson.
Then pick up your Bible and read the encouraging words from the writer of The Letter to the Hebrews, who said it best in how we must live, while we are here on earth—
“Therefore, since we have so great of cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
(The Letter to the Hebrews 12: 1-3 NASB)
let us also lay aside every encumbrance
and the sin which so easily entangles us,
and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
fixing our eyes on Jesus,
the author and perfecter of faith,
who for the joy set before Him endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself,
so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”
We do not face an uncertain future because we know God is in control of the universe, and so we can rest secure in His promises. We can believe in the truth of God, that salvation comes through faith in Jesus. We who have received the Amazing Grace of God are called to be holy and blameless before God. We are to act, not like others, but as peculiar, knowing always we are children of God.
- Troubles will come.
- Pain will be felt.
- Life-situations will unexpectedly arise.
Life here will seem so small in relation to living and loving others like Jesus. The kingdom of Jesus is not of this world, so if our identity is with Christ, we must not act like this world, but we must act like Him.
Are We Homesick—as we live here, knowing how our citizenship remains THERE, in heaven, with God?
- As a believer, focus on Christ and His return.
- As a believer, pray for Jesus’ second coming.
JESUS IS ENOUGH!
- Our priorities.
- Our choices.
- Our devotion.
Our way of life—reflects to the watching world whether we are devoted—or not—to JESUS.
For we know to die is to gain because we have unbreakable HOPE & ultimate PEACE.
Therefore, while we wait, as co-heirs with Christ, as children of God, we willingly accept the suffering as Jesus did, fully aware that we will also share in His glory because we know a time is coming, when every pain, every earthly problem—will be exchanged.
“By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; . . .”
As Christ-followers, we know this body, this earthly tent will one day soon be exchanged for a heavenly, transformed body, one that will be forevermore with the LORD.
“for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.”