Thursday, October 15, 2009

Home

Where is home? Some say "Home is where the heart is." Paul says that Heaven is the true home of believers and earth is only a temporary stay, a camp of testing on our journey called life. I say that both are correct. Home is where the heart is heaven is our home. Residing and abiding in the heart of the believer is Jesus Christ. Jesus is our Great High Priest, interceding for us at the right hand of God the Father. So, Jesus is in heaven and in our hearts. He commanded us to abide in Him as He abides in us. So, our hearts are abiding with Jesus in heaven. God searches for men and women after His heart. We are exhorted to focus our minds on the things above. We're encouraged to fight the good fight of the faith, pressing on toward the goal of heaven. Jesus said He's preparing a place for us in His Father's house in heaven. Scripture clearly and unmistakably tells us that our home is in heaven.
But, on earth we have homes as well. Our homes on earth are those places where our family resides. Not only our biological family, however. When we gave our lives to Christ, He adopted us into His family. This means that all believers are brothers and sisters. Paul exhorted Timothy to treat all older women as his mother all younger women as his sister. We are addressed by Paul, Peter, and several others as "brethren." So, our family is made up of fellow believers. Therefore, our home is wherever another spiritual brother, sister, or mother is. Now, we obviously all have a biological home. This home is our base camp. Who we are was formed from an early age in our home. God molded us into the person we are today through circumstances, events, and parental guidance in that home. Yes, we continue to grow and He continues to mold us until the day we go Home, but our upbringing plays a huge part in our life.
So, when I say "I'm home" I mean "I'm with family." I long for the day when I go Home. But for now, I am satisfied with wherever the Lord has me, with whatever home He puts me in. And I will always have a longing to visit my biological home, to be with my biological family. I love my dad and my mom, my older sister, younger brother, and younger sister with my whole heart. I will always miss them and always love them. I praise the Lord every day, thanking Him for blessing me with such a wonderful, God-fearing family. My parents are the best in the world, and I would never want to trade my siblings in for anyone else. I am who I am and where I am because of their obedience to the Lord, their faith in Him, and their faithfulness to lead me in the way I should go.
So home is where the heart is. My heart is with the Lord, I have offered myself to Him, I love Him with my whole heart. The Lord is everywhere, omnipresent. He resides in all believers. Therefore, my home is wherever I am and wherever I go. I am content wherever I am. Admittedly, I'm happier in some places than in others, but all the same, I am content. Oh haste the day when Jesus comes and brings me Home to reside with the Father and His children forever! Until that day, I'm home.

Praise the Lord :)