“For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.” (Heb. 13:14)
Where do you call home, and why do you stay there? The mountains, plains, desert or ocean view, these are your four options, and each of us has a favorite, there are of course those major metropolitan areas, cities that sprawl for miles in every direction, eventually though at the edge of those cities you are once again left with only those four options.
“And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:3)
“And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Rev. 21:2)
Our eternal heavenly home will afford all those views, and probably more than that we cannot even begin to imagine here, the new earth will have no curse upon it, making even the most grandest vista you have ever witnessed here pale in comparison. The former things that will not come to mind will not only be those of a personal nature my friends, but of much that you have seen in this life.
Does one still relish the trinket purchased when you have received diamonds, rubies and emeralds? Can that which has decomposed be compared to that which is everlasting?
Yes, no more pain or sorrow, no more tears, the wicked who hate Him whom we love removed from our presence for all of time, the fullness of joy in the presence of the Living God, our loving Father, pleasures forevermore, and on top of all that, an eternal beautiful home.
“These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” (Heb. 11:13)
This is not home, this is Satan’s world at this time, and ambassadors of the Kingdom of heaven do not make their home in enemy territory. You can test yourself here you know, you can find out within yourself just how much you have left to grow in this area yet.
“And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.” (Job 1:21)
Look around you, look at what you have accumulated in this life, look through your mind’s eye, look through your memories and find the items that you believe you will miss. What do you want to take with you, what memories of those places do you want to retain?
I remember my adoring wife’s face the first time she saw the ocean and her bare feet stepped onto the warm sand. I would like to keep that memory, but I do not need that particular beach, in my mind I have watched them drive the spikes in my Savior’s hands and feet, but I would rather recall Him walking out of that tomb, victorious over death.
I want to see my lovely wife’s face the first time that she sees the Lord Jesus Christ, and I want to hold onto that memory throughout all eternity.
“But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.” (Heb. 11:16)
When you walk through that final door my friends, when you finally reach that strait gate, very little of this life will be brought to mind, those things that will be are the blessings of the Lord that we have been given here.
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” (Matt. 6:21)
I pray you are not asking for just one more day, one more hour, one more minute here because this is where your home is, because you have become comfortable here. When it is time to go, when the Almighty decides to bring you home, do not think about packing a bag, do not recall all that you loved here, look forward to what awaits you.
Pilgrims and travelers look for a place to rest, if you have been born-again, you know full well that you will not find that rest here, this is not our home.
The journey will end when the work He has set before you has been completed, until then, rest in this promise.
“But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” (1st Cor. 2:9)
