For we know that if the earthly house of our tent is dissolved, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, [but]eternal, in the heavens. For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;… Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 (WEB)
For our citizenship is in heaven, from where we also wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will change the body of our humiliation to be conformed to the body of his glory, according to the working by which he is able even to subject all things to himself. Philippians 3:20-21 (WEB)
But, according to his promise, we look for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, seeing that you look for these things, be diligent to be found in peace, without blemish and blameless in his sight. 2 Peter 3:13-14 (WEB)
Are you homesick for heaven?
I remember my first day of kindergarten. It was a half day; maybe four hours away from my mom. I thought that I would never go home! When I discovered that my mother would come and get me every day and I had something to share at the table each night like my older brother, I thought school was great!
I went to an international Girl Scout event when I was 16. I was several thousand miles away from my small hometown, located in middle America, for ten days. I flew on an airplane for the first time. I met girls from all over the world. It was a wonderful experience but I was ‘sick for home’ and glad to touch down on familiar earth.
I went away to college. My first ‘away time’ was from September to Thanksgiving. I was really homesick then! I was ‘sick’ for the familiar; for the comfort of home. Do I feel the same way about heaven?
My parents, my son, and friends have all died and gone before me to heaven. There is a song by Mercy Me, Homesick, that speaks truly about how my home is where my heart is. Now that someone I love is in heaven, I begin to understand the concept of being homesick for heaven. I feel that. I understand that. But lately, I have wanted to be homesick for heaven because of God, not just James or Mom or Dad. I am on a journey to seek the heart of my Father and Savior. I want to be more homesick for Him and feel that homesickness for Him more than anyone.
Now before someone mistakenly wonders if I am suicidal – I do not want to leave this world one second before God’s plan for me! I know that He has plans for me. There are opportunities that God is opening for me to serve Him. I surely do not want to miss even one of them! I do want to understand how Abraham thought of himself as an ‘alien’. I want to be counted among the faithful who also considered themselves ‘aliens’ (Hebrews 11:13). I want to care more about God’s treasures and less about the treasures of this world. I want to be a ‘light’ that will lead others to walk in the truth of God. My face is set toward home. (smile)
