There's No Place Like Home

There’s No Place Like Home

John 14:1-3 - Jesus said, “Don’t be troubled. You trust God, now trust in me. There are many rooms in my Father’s home, and I am going to prepare a place for you. If this were not so, I would tell you plainly. When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”

There’s a common saying: “There’s no place like home.” My wife, Carollyn and I have had the privilege of traveling to a number of foreign countries on missions trips, and every time we are flying back on a 14hour trip or longer, one of us would always say, “I can’t wait until we get home.”

Jesus said, He is preparing a place for us in our Heavenly Father’s home. The home Jesus is preparing for us will be our final, eternal home.

Samuel Morrison was a missionary in Africa for twenty-five years. In the early 1900’s he was returning to the United States. It so happened, that he was traveling on the same ocean liner that brought President Teddy Roosevelt back from a hunting expedition in Africa. When the great ship pulled into New York harbor, the dock was lined up with people to welcome President Roosevelt back. Bands were playing, banners were waving, choirs of children were singing, multicolored balloons were floating in the air, flashbulbs were popping, and newsreel cameras were poised to record the return of President Teddy Roosevelt.

Mr. Roosevelt stepped down the gangplank to thunderous cheers and applause, showered with confetti and ticker tape.

At the same time, Samuel Morison quietly walked off the boat. No one was there to greet him. He slipped along through the crowd. Because of the crush of people to welcome the president, he couldn’t even find a cab. Inside his heart, he began to complain. Lord, the president has been in Africa for three weeks, killing animals, and the whole world turns out to welcome him home. I’ve given twenty-five years of my life in Africa, serving You, and no one has greeted me or even knows I’m here.”

In the quietness of his heart, a gentle, loving voice whispered, “But My dear child, you are not home yet!”

The Bible says we are created in the image of God and as one of the early church scholars said, “Our hearts are restless until we find rest in God.” St. Pascal said, “There is a God created vacuum in the hearts of man, that only God can fill.”

Our life on earth is only our temporary home. Our final home is in heaven. Today we celebrate the home going of ____________________

Jack often attended church, but it wasn’t until during his time of sickness that he took time to find the peace of God in his heart. A day came when he felt compelled to get his life and house in order. He talked to his adopted son, Josh, about Josh’s life goals. He asked Ruth about purchasing cemetery lots. His wife, Ruth, used God’s Word to help Jack pray and invite Jesus into his heart and life.

Jesus declared that whoever comes to him with child-like faith and a repentant heart, He will not turn away.

It’s not easy to lose a loved one, but we know that when our loved ones die with faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord we will see them again at the home God is preparing for them