June 8, 2021 – “I’m Goin’ Home!” Reflections
For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 Corinthians 5:1.
The first time I saw a handmade hanging, saying, “Home Sweet Home!” I did not know what those words would mean by the time I reached the ninth decade of life.
When I went to college in 1947, I didn’t realize how homesick I would be by the time six weeks ended, when I could travel by bus back home. (Finances dictated that length of time.)
From that time on, until there was no home to go back to, going Home was a joyous event. When I was in high school, mother gave me another solo to learn to sing, “Going Home!” That is when I realized our earthly home is a stepping-stone into our Heavenly Home. The lyrics turned my thoughts truly Heavenward.
Going home, going home, I am going home, Quiet-like, some still day. I’m just going home. It’s not far, just close by, Through an open door, Work all done; care laid by. Going to fear no more, Mother’s there expecting me, Father’s waiting, too
Lots of folk gathered there, All the friends I knew, Home, I’m going home! Lyrics by William Fisher.
Going home meant laughter, hugs, love, good food, and joy. Just being with someone who really knows you. Going to Heaven begins early. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before Him. In love, He predestined us for adoption to Himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will. Ephesians 1:3-5.
Before God created the Heavens and Earth, He chose us as His children. Then in God made sure we would long for Him. Belonging to Him heart and soul is His goal. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. Ecclesiastes 3:1.
My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! Psalm 139:15-17.
What is Home? It is the place where we are loved and forgiven. It is a place where we belong, encouraged, and cared for. Home is the place we learn how to care for each other. Home is where we learn God is Love, and we learn to Love One Another as Jesus taught.
Our home is a place where Jesus is welcome, and furnished with seats, hugs, and renewed with colors of hope, faith, and love.
A place where God’s Word is studied where prayers and blessing are given to all those who enter may know the Spirit of our Savior Jesus Christ abides. Where love is renewed day by day.
Home is where anger and strife are not welcome. For God Himself makes all things new. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. Romans 12:2-3. Just as our earthly homes need cleaning regularly, so it is with our minds and hearts, in order not to stray away from God’s Powerful Word.
It is who we put our trust in that count, the world or Jesus. Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. Colossians 3:11-13.
It is when we arrive at our home not made with hands that we will know the rest of the joyous and victorious song, Going Home.
Nothing lost, all’s gain, No more fret nor pain. No more stumbling on the way. No more longing for the day. Going to roam no more! Morning star lights the way, Restless dream all done; Shadows gone, break of day, Real life just begun.
There’s no break, there’s no end, Just a-living on; Wide awake with a smile. Going on and on. Going home, going home, I’m just going home. Going home, going home, going home!
The peace and joy the following verses give us. They comfort in times of trouble, and times when I stumble and fail to please my Father God and ask for forgiveness.
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am. You may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.” John 14:1-4.
We are not sure how an eternity with God will be, but from the beautiful Heavens and Earth and all the beauty we have here, it will be a blessing to reach our Home, Sweet, Heavenly Home! These are the things we won’t miss on earth.
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:3-4.
Then it will be finished. And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning, and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.” Revelation 21:6-7.