Going Home
“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me (Jesus). There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:1-2
Vacations!!!! Everyone seems to love them. This is the time of the year where everyone is trying to get one more summer trip or vacation in. I have a bit of a confession to make though. Ok here goes…
I do like to go away, but I love to come home even more!
Yes, I know that makes me a ‘home girl’ but that is just the way God made me. I love love love to be home and never seem to tire of it. When I go on vacation, I sometimes find myself counting the nights until I am back home in my bed, enjoying my own food, using my own bathroom, loving on my dog, and getting back into my routine of life.
I was like this as a child too because my first time at church camp as a fourth grader was the last time I went to camp!! I got so homesick that I couldn’t eat. I toughed out the week so as not to get made fun of by my friends, but I NEVER EVER returned.
As much as I love being home, do you know that this is NOT ‘my home’? My home is being built in heaven with each passing day, and I know that my God knows me so well that he knows exactly what it should be like. Jesus himself told us in John 14:1-2 that he was going to prepare a place for us and that he would come back and get us when everything was ready. Sometimes even in the comfort of my own home, I find myself longing for my heavenly home… a home that will be filled with the LOVE of the Father, the PRESENCE of the Father, and the JOY of the Father. Do you ever long for your heavenly home?
Before Jesus ascended to heaven he spoke to his disciples in John 14:3 he told them that “they knew the way to where he was going”. But Thomas spoke up and said “No, we don’t know, Lord. We have no idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?” Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.” — Jesus is the only way to heaven. There is no other way! You must believe that He is the indeed the Son of God, believe that He gave His life so you could be forgiven, and that He is alive today and seated at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus is the ONLY way to heaven. Many people like to believe there are all kinds of paths but there is one path and that is Jesus. To believe anything else is a sure ticket to hell.
The Bible tells us some things about heaven that we can look forward to:
Heaven will be a physical place, but there will be no temple there. The Lord God and Jesus are present so there is no need for a place of worship. God will actually dwell there among us.
There will be no need for the sun or the moon. The sun and moon are for light, but the Glory of the Lord will be the source of light.
All of our needs will be supplied! We will no longer want or lack anything.
It will be a place of complete and utter peace and joy! No tears, no fears, no worries about tomorrow. They are all wiped away.
We will live eternally. There will no longer will there be death, mourning, or separation.
Heaven will contain the perfect government. The Lord God is just and He reigns. We worship him eternally.
As Christians we live in this world, but our focus needs to be on Jesus and our desires should to be heavenly focused. That can be very hard for us to do because the world tries to entice us with so many things that take our focus away from Him. Time and time again we must deny ourselves and follow Him. Simply put, this means we cannot be a friend of the world. To be a friend of the world is to be an enemy of God. Jesus instructed us to not love the world. He said that loving the world will show that the love of the Father is not in you. For all that is in the world - the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions - is not from the Father but is from the world. 1 John 2:15-16.
Is your focus heaven bound? Are you longing for your eternal home filled with all the goodness of the Father and His presence? Matthew 6:19-21 says, Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But instead, store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”
Is heaven your future home? Is heaven the cry and longing of your heart? Are you certain that if Jesus returned tonight you are His child and Heaven is your home? If you are not sure that you are God’s child and that heaven will be your home, today is the day to be make the very best decision of your life. Don’t wait another minute! I would encourage you to talk to a trusted Christian friend or Pastor, or send me a message using my contact page on this website. Today you can be sure that your future is with Jesus and your home is in heaven! Jesus is the only way and heaven will be the best eternal home ever!!