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Home At Last
Home At Last
And the city has not need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illuminated it and its lamp is the Lamb. . . .and nothing unclean and no one who practices abomination and lying shall ever come into it, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life (Revelation 21:23-27)
Human language cannot be found that can adequately set forth the beauty and joys of the home that has been prepared for those who have willingly submitted themselves to God by obeying and serving him faithfully on this side of eternity. Today, my heart is a storehouse of many wonderful memories that have brought immeasurable joy into my life and I venture to say that the same holds true for you as well. But none of those things can even begin to compare with the joy and glory that will be ours in that building from God, the house not made with human hands (2 Cor. 5:1).
Joy will be multiplied there because there will be no sorrow, crying, pain or death in that home where joys will never end. There will be no tear of frustration to ever dim our eyes, all things will have been made new (Rev. 21:3-5). Just thinking about one day never growing old, tired or weary lightens the load tremendously. How beautiful are the words of Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from whence also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Our journey down the pathway of life will not always be an easy one. I hear the writer of Hebrews as he tells us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame and is seated at the right hand of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.” With our eyes fixed on Jesus, trusting him all the way we will have the strength, courage and commitment that will enable us to endure and one day be at home with him.
Long ago my wife and I loved to ride a motorcycle. We often would take off for several days on a trip that would cover over 2000 miles or more. Today, as I think about those trips, I remember as if it were only yesterday how when returning home from one of those trips, she would get off the motorcycle, turn to me and say, it sure is good to be home. As I sit here thinking about what she said, the thought overwhelms me that one day I want to stand in the midst of the wonderful city of God and simply say, it sure is good to be home! How about you? I pray all of us will run this race of life in such a way that one day we will obtain the prize which Jesus has promised (John 14:1-3; Phil. 3:12-14)—Home At Last , O what a day that will be!
Charles Hicks, Gallatin Tennessee
