Home Sweet Home
It had been years since Renee and I got away for a real vacation. Years ago when the kids were small we went to Disney World. We did go on one of the weekend cruse ship things once that was about 6 years ago.
So now we had a once in a life time experience. We flew to Malta had a brief tour then boarded a 300 foot sailing ship with 60 other travelers. We were shown sights and fed fantastic meals.
I have some observations of this journey that I want to share.
They talk funny over there.
Everyplace we went, they had their own language and we hardly understood any of it. It was not that we could not communicate; most of them had an understanding of what we wanted. You can buy souvenirs and get a $5 bottle of water with no problem. But it was pretty obvious that we were not from around there. We dressed different and obviously could not read the traffic signs.
Another observation, they drive like maniacs over there. It will be hard for me to complain about Atlanta traffic after this trip. It is not the speed that I am talking about. It is how the motor scooters zip in and out of traffic. How they scoot between cars .. no lane , just enough space to clear the mirrors. They will even use the opposite traffic lane if no one happens to be using it, sometimes even if they are. They seem to have no fear of busses or trucks they will drive right through a crowd of tourist. The horn sound still rings I my ears.
The countries are old. I guess I forget that our country is so young, 300 or so years of history. As we traveled over there we looked a buildings and archeological history hundreds of years before Christ walked on this earth. We toured churches that were built on the ancient sights of pagan temples and have survived WWII bombings. They have deep roots over there. Everything looks old and the traditions seem old and rigid.
In many ways we felt like we did not belong. We toured with others from the ship acting like our own little country or large family. We stuck together following our tour leader and watching out for each other. I believe we all had a since of being strangers and a need to loosely cling to our new association with each other. This gave us a feeling of safety in and environment that was foreign to all of us.
We had several things in common. When we first came together we were total strangers, however: we came to the ship with an expectation that we would see some fantastic things and be safe. We had brochures and maps that described the promises of what was to come. We all expected that we would be seeing some things and doing some things that were different and even foreign to our normal day. We had all traveled thousands of miles on the promises given by the tour company.
In a way I guess that was a form of faith. We had some promises and expectations and believed that they could and would be fulfilled.
That sort of describes how Christians are to view this world.
Our scripture talks of people with faith and how they admitted being aliens in a foreign land. Christians have a citizenship which is different than this world, This world, the united states is a foreign country. We are different from the environment around us. We have a different language and customs and standards that many of the people around us.
In a church we are traveling thru this world and culture, supporting each other and hopefully touching outsiders along the way.
The scripture today describes people of faith that reached for promises that were not fulfilled in their life time. These people have a patience and a view that let them remain faithful when the promises did not happen in their life time. Just because the promise was not yet visible they did not chuck their faith.
The scriptures are full of people that lived in foreign lands as strangers or aliens with no rights. God sent them with a verbal promise and they went. They were looked on suspiciously and attacked. Where was their proof that the promises were true? Where was the land or the children?
Their lives seemed to be a trip with no destination, no tour and on timely great meal. As far as they could see, nothing was happening.
How could they hold on to their faith without tangible results?
They trusted the one that made the promises. God
Personally, I find traveling to be pretty uncomfortable. I am a get there quick because “the place I am going is my goal” person. I want to start and get there as fast as possible because the travel is not a part of the vacation. I want the traveling part over so I can enjoy myself.
Some people enjoy the journey and seeing the sights as much as the destination it self. They can look out the window at endless miles of highway or vast areas of land seen from an airplane and enjoy the time. They have an ability to enjoy the journey and the destination is just a bonus.
For Abraham and Noah and others mentioned in the Old Testament the journey involved a lot of wondering around. It was just life and they had little choice except to notice the scenery along the way. It was important to know where you were and where you were headed. They moved from place to place to place out of necessity.
On our trip we wondered a lot too. In fact many of the tours took much longer to get to the location than we stayed. One day we took a trip around and island and never got off the bus. It was just a big circle. On the ship we moved from port to port staying only one place for two nights. Some places we only were there for a half day tour and off we go again.
We were lucky not to physically live out of our suit cases. We did have a closet in the ship, but we were just temporary visitors. We never really settled in. The ship was home in a way but even there we were in a foreign environment. Our room moved, the people talked another language (French) and foreign food. We were never any place long enough to be “ At Home” We had very few choices, the journey was planned and carried out by the staff and the tour directors. We were just along for the ride.
The Christian Life involves a lot of wondering around. We are to live like Abraham, not necessarily moving from place to place. It is more of a spiritual journey or Sojourn. The spiritual journey is about learning of our relationship with God and accepting his promises and direction through this foreign land. So we will never be totally comfortable in this world. It is not our home, it is a trip where we have little real control over the direction or events.
This journey involves being able to stand out and have people notice that you are different It involves a way of carrying your self that lets you bridge cultures and understanding not to cause a divide. At the same time it is not that you drop your standards and beliefs. That is often the trickiest part. As Christians we are already slaves, we became so voluntarily in exchange for the protection of the master. Christians are servants to the world on God’s behalf. That is not always the most pleasant idea. We like to be served.
On the ship the staff treated us like a guest…not family. Yes that is exactly what they were supposed to do. I like to help at other peoples parties. I am not comfortable being a guest, I want to help; I want to get things myself.
A guest is constantly served and treated special. That sounds pretty good on the front end. To be special. To be pampered
Some might describe this trip as being heavenly. Well, it was very nice, obviously much nicer than I am used to. But I think heaven will be very different. The ideas of service here really won’t apply. But part of the perfection will be a different level of equality. There won’t be a level of master and servant between people. There won’t be people that I would prefer not to sit with at dinner.
Everything about this trip was more incredible than I could have imagined. Every detail was considered and planned. There was nothing worth complaining about on the whole trip.
However, there was one problem. I did not deserve such a wonderful gift. I did nothing to earn the generous favor of our friend. I never took a bullet for her or saved her life in any other way. I have never done anything big for this woman.
She made this trip a complete act of Grace. (Unmerited favor)
I have a problem with Grace. I love to give it; I love to see it happen between people. But, I have trouble receiving Grace.
I have trouble with receiving something that I did not earn or pay for. I have trouble with the wonderful gift from a friend for the trip and so many others that helped us with details and even with money for some of the extras like meals and souvenirs.
Now, after it is over I still ask myself the question of why did I agree? IT was a personal struggle and I don’t regret the decision.
What I realized is that this feeling is not new for me. It is not just this trip and the side circumstances that leave me uncomfortable. I have similar issues with God’s grace. I struggle with his plan of salvation,. How he would allow his own Son to give himself for me.
You see, I have not done anything to deserve His actions, his grace extended to me.
I am not talking about a problem with faith in God and Belief that it is true.
I have trouble with how it could be true for me.
I know me, and I know God knows me. That is why I struggle. How can I be worth his time and effort?
I learned a few years ago that I am not alone in this struggle with Grace. I found that most Christians have had an issue with accepting the gift.
Some are able to win the battle quickly and others move forward and backward on the scale of acceptance. I think even the apostle Paul may have fought the same battle. That was part of his passion, to deal with his history and to be a leader in this new understanding of Grace. For him to convert from the law and to hold on to the promise and to hold fast through the journey had to be difficult.
I get that thought from scriptures like:
1 Corinthians 15:9-10
9I am the least important of the apostles. I’m not even fit to be called an apostle. I tried to destroy God’s church. 10But because of God’s grace I am what I am. And his grace was not wasted on me. No, I have worked harder than all the other apostles. But I didn’t do the work. God’s grace was with me.
It sounds like he has trouble forgiving himself and forgetting his past actions. His tone seems to recognize the value of the Gift that he has received even with his past. He seems to want to earn something and even has a desire to help in any way he can.
The he identifies that Grace is suffucent, even when he suffers and fells like a failure.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
8Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul had a trip to Rome for the sake of sharing the gospel. He endures all kinds of hardships, hunger, tiredness and abuse. Paul is an example of a person that was obviously different for God’s sake. He stood out in a crowd in word and action. He is an example for struggling Christians both in his acceptance of Grace and being set apart for God’s use.
As Christians we are to stand out to the world like a bunch of tourist following our Guide., the Guide being Jesus Christ. We must head for the goal and put up with difficulties because we fully accept the promises and know that they make all the tiredness and aches and pains worth it.
One last observation about our trip. No matter how much fun we had, how elegant the accommodations and food, and regardless of all the new friends we made.
It is Good to be home.
It is so great to be back in my bed. It is good to drive my car again and to sort of control my time again. It seems funny that the best part of a trip is coming back home.
No matter how great a trip I have ever had, I have always been ready to come home.
One day it will be time to leave the journey behind as well. One day we will be able to leave this foreign land and truly return to our heavenly home. A place where we don’t need a passport for identification. A place where we are expected and made comfortable because it is the place we call home.
All Glory be to God!
