Not Our Home

"This world is not our home."

Those were Robin's words to me as I told her of the sudden death yesterday of the son of friends from our former church in Minnesota. Not only were his parents very supportive of us during our six years at that church, but the man's wife has been a friend of mine for 28 years, beginning the week after they married.

And the news of this particular death comes on the heels of my conducting a funeral today and another one yesterday. One man, one woman, each in their 30's and between them leaving behind nine children.

And as I write this it is about 24 hours since the terrorist bombing in Manchester, England killed 23 people and injured 59 others. 

Christians looking at the world through the lens of the Bible clearly see evidence of sin and the brokenness that travels with it all around them.  It is a view that is crystal clear as I think about the four events mentioned in the first part of this writing. 

But Christians looking at the world through the lens of the Bible also see clearly, that God has something much better in place as the true home for His children.  I noted that in yesterday's funeral sermon from John 14:1-6, where in verse 3 Jesus says,

"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also." 

John later gives an eyewitness report of this image of home in his Revelation, describing the new heaven and new earth in 21:1-4.  Verse four is particularly clear in the way it talks about how drastically different the this dwelling with God will be, saying,

"He [God] will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away."

If you are in some way suffering from the broken nature of a world soaked in sin, may you know rest and peace in the arms of a loving God.  Jesus lived and died that you might know true peace and true hope. 

For the Christian, this world is not our home in the truest sense of those words.  But it is place where we can live with faith in Jesus, serving Him until that day He brings us to be with Him forever.

(The picture is of the southwestern San Juan mountains, looking north into Colorado, about 40 miles west of where we live. I took it today while traveling to do some hospital and nursing home visits.)

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.