Not Home Yet
Photo by Artem Kovalev on Unsplash
In my last post, I mentioned we are in the process of moving out of state and it struck me how comfortable I had become in this old house over the years.
Even though my desire has been to move to a home built in this century for some time, there is some sadness and sorrow as we ready to depart.
And my reticence to start packing surprised me when moving actually became a reality.
We’ve raised our kids here, fought and won the battle with my husband’s CPTSD here and made countless memories with friends and family here.
I even found a toy firetruck buried in the backyard while cleaning *sniffle*.
Some say this world is the “waiting room” for our true home.
And it’s true.
The feelings that arose brought to life the scriptures reminding me this world is not my home and my true, permanent citizenship is in heaven (Hebrews 13:14, Philippians 3:20)
When you and I accept the free gift of eternal life offered through Christ Jesus, this world is not our final destination.
We have started our eternal life in the here and now, but we’re not home.
Not yet.
Here are three things God is reminding me of through this current season of transition:
Don’t get too comfortable with the physical
In our culture, excess is celebrated. But how much stuff do we really need? The more stuff you have the more you have to take care of and store – and pack when it is time to move on.
Stuff wears out and breaks. Excess stuff can steal your joy by stealing precious time away from the things -and people- that really matter (just ask Marie Kondo).
I used to think there’s no way we had a lot of stuff due to the lack of closets common to vintage homes, along with being sans garage.
Wrong.
We may actually have the corner market on books and photos. And being an HSP and easily overwhelmed, I find my survival hangs on Philippians 4:13 these days – I can do all things through Him who strengthens me!
Not to mention everything in this world is temporal. Cars break down, kids move away, and friends flow in and out of our lives.
Jesus is the only constant that will never, ever change.
The only consistency between here and there is people
What is the one commonality between earth and heaven?
People.
The same people I interact with here on earth– family, friends, co-workers, store clerks, etc. – are the ones I pray I will see in heaven one day.
God desires all His beautiful one-of-a-kind creations come to repentance and live with Him forever in heaven (2 Peter 3:9). And that should be my goal too.
I won’t care what house I lived in, the car I drove, jewelry I wore, purses I carried (although, there is gold and precious gems in heaven I might add…), etc.
I will only care about those I loved and cared about here on earth are with me - and more importantly with Jesus - for all eternity.
No matter where I live, people are people and in need of a Savior. For God so love the world He gave His one and only Son.
And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, (Revelation 5:9 ESV)
God is with me wherever I go
Years ago I went on a short-term overseas missions trip. After getting off the plane and looking around, it struck me I could read nothing. English was nowhere to be found.
I momentarily panicked never having been in that situation before. Then I looked up at the sun and realized the same sun God shines on me at home is the same one here. And He is here too.
It doesn’t matter if I am in the city, county, mountains, or shore, God is there.
“Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! ”
And He has promised to never leave or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).
Change is Good
Have you ever noticed the longer you are comfortable, the harder it is to move – as in physically get up?
I think the same is true when God says it’s time to act and we have become complacent in our walk with Him.
When I am comfortable in my life, I tend to slink down and become lazy in my relationship with the Lord since nothing is pressing me into Him.
Suffering – or getting uncomfortable – can be a blessing as it jolts us from our apathy. As Joni Eareckson Tada says,
“In affliction and suffering, our hearts are pressed into His. And the life of God flows into us, wound to would. In those times of brokenness, remember that in Christ, the result is life, life, and more life” (Pearls of Great Price Devotional, July 12).
This move is shaking me up and pressing me into God. He is once more gently nudging me, waking me from my slumber to remind me He’s really in control.
Oh, I like to say I believe He’s in control – as long as things seem to be going my way on my well-worn path. But in reality He’s the one driving, I’m just a passenger along for the ride.
And it’s time to get up and get ready for a new adventure.
How does God remind you He’s the one really in control?
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