Home. Finally. At Last.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. 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.
--John 14:1-3

I am thinking about heaven today. We are studying Revelation in our Monday morning class. All the glimpses of what we will see -- golden streets, gates of pearls, the river flowing as crystal from the throne of God, the rainbow encircling the throne, precious jewels, the tree of life, the angels -- all we are told about seems breathtaking.

But whenever I think of heaven, I think of the verses, not in Revelation, but in John, when Christ is comforting His disciples.

He knows what is about to happen -- that He is to be arrested, tortured with a cruel death, and they will be frightened and scattered and no doubt feeling hopeless and helpless. So what does He tell them to bring them comfort?

He doesn't describe the wonder and magnificence of His heavenly palace -- no, He tells them He is going home.And someday they will go home, also.

HOME. Because Home is where He will be. That's what they need to hear. That's what they want to hear. He's going back home and they will join Him there in the future.

And it will be our home. We're going home. Even the prodigal finally made it back home.

We have traveled in many areas of the world. We enjoyed our trips to Italy, Switzerland, Israel, Thailand, and so many other wonderful places. But we were always anxious to get back HOME.

Our earthly home is just a temporary substitute for our final destination, our real home. So in our hearts we are still pilgrims and wanderers, journeying on, seeking our real home -- the place where we really belong.

Why do we still yearn for home? Because we are homeless...we lost our home.

We seek, like Abraham,

...when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country. He lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. --Hebrews 11:8-10

Our basic need for our lost home is fully met only because the Lord Jesus Himself, right now, is preparing for us a home in heaven and, right now, is preparing us for that heavenly home!

Until then we are living in a strange, alien land which is actually enemy territory.

But someday we will arrive Home. Finally. At last. And that day will be the first day of the rest of our lives!

Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

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Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in. -- Robert Frost