Homeward Bound (I'll Be Home for Christmas ... if Only in My Dreams)

"But in keeping
with His promise
we are looking forward
to a new heaven
and a new earth,
the home of righteousness."
(2 Peter 3:13)
Oh, beloved, I am homesick. As Christmas Day approaches, my longing for home intensifies. The desire within my heart, however, is not for a place on this earth. My longing can not be satisfied, no matter how lovely or familiar my surroundings, for the home I crave is one that I have not yet known but for which I have been created: eternity with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

As I yearn for for the new heaven, the new earth, and the home of righteousness that Peter describes, my heart swells and my eyes tear as I reflect on the fact that God sent His Son away from that perfect home to dwell among us. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. ... The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth." (John 1:1-2; 14).

Jesus left the right hand of the Father to enter the world in the most humble of births and to leave it in the most humiliating of deaths. His sole purpose: to provide us with the opportunity to spend eternity in His presence. " 'For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him. Whoever believes in Him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.' " (John 3:16-18).

Within each of us, God created a yearning to dwell in the perfect love, peace, and righteousness of His presence. Some of us may not realize that the unsatisfied longing in our hearts is actually the desire for Him; it is a Divine void that can never be satisfied with worldly things. There is no surrogate for Jesus, and there is no substitute for Heaven. The very best earthly home is but a foreshadowing of the heavenly blessings that await us in our eternal home. "Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12; reference also Colossians 2:17; Hebrews 8:5, 10:1).

Even as I participate in the celebrations of this season, remembering the incomparable gift of Christ's birth and the inconceivable grace of His death, I am yet unsatisfied, inwardly aching to be in the presence of my Father and my Lord. "Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in Heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling ... Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We ... would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord." (2 Corinthians 5:1-8).

While I am earthbound, I do thank God for the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit, my constant Divine companion, Who soothes my heavenly homesickness with the promises of what is to come and the encouragement to stay the course in the meantime. "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." (2 Corinthians 4:18).

I am encouraged by the faith of those who have lived before me, such as Abraham, who, "when called to go to a place that he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." (Hebrews 11:8-10).

And, I am encouraged by the promises of the Lord Himself:

"My people will live
in peaceful dwelling places,
in secure homes,
in undisturbed places of rest."
(Isaiah 32:18)

" 'But you, O mountains
of Israel, will produce
branches and fruit
for My people Israel,
for they will soon come home.' "
(Ezekiel 36:8)

" 'They will come trembling
like birds from Egypt,
like doves from Assyria.
I will settle them
in their homes,'
declares the LORD."
(Hosea 11:11)

" 'At that time
I will gather you;
at that time
I will bring you home.
I will give you
honor and praise
among all the peoples
of the earth
when I restore
your fortunes
before your very eyes,'
says the LORD."
(Zephaniah 3:20)

This Christmas, I rejoice in the knowledge that even as I remember the birth of my Savior and yearn to be forever in His presence, He, too, is remembering me and preparing my eternal home. (Oh, my eyes are just brimming with tears as I write this! I can hardly see the computer screen ...) " 'Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in Me. In My Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with Me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.' " (John 14:1-4).

So, although I am currently in the world, I am not of the world (reference John 15:19, 17:16). I am temporarily earthbound, but I am always homeward bound, dreaming of my eternal home. One day soon, I will be home for Christmas; I will be home with Christ Himself ... forever. I'll no longer dream of home, I'll be home. Home, sweet home. I pray that I will see you there.

Precious Father, thank You for preparing an eternal home for me! Thank You not only for preparing it but for showing me the way there, through the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. I praise You for creating me so intimately, personally, and uniquely; You know the desires of my heart for You planted them within me. How I long for the day " 'When the Son of Man comes in His glory ...' " (Matthew 5:31). How I yearn to hear " 'the King say to those on His right, 'Come, you who are blessed by My Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.' " (Matthew 5:34). Come, Lord Jesus, come! I pray in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

"Then I saw
a new heaven
and a new earth,
for the first heaven
and the first earth
had passed away ...
I saw the Holy City,
the new Jerusalem,
coming down
out of heaven from God,
prepared as a bride
beautifully dressed
for her husband.
And I heard a loud voice
from the throne saying,
'Now the dwelling of God
is with men,
and He will live with them.
They will be His people,
and God Himself
will be with them
and be their God.
He will wipe every tear
from their eyes.
There will be
no more death
or mourning
or crying
or pain,
for the old order
of things
has passed away.'
He Who was seated
on the throne said,
'I am making
everything new!'
Then He said,
'Write this down,
for these words
are trustworthy
and true.' "
(Revelation 21:1-5)

For further reflection on this topic, see also ...

• "A Star is Born"

How can I encourage and pray for you today? Please let me know by clicking on "Sparks Share" at the end of today's reflection, and scroll down to the "Comments" box. You may choose to comment anonymously, if you prefer. Feel free to leave your praises and insights as well!
Copyright 2008. Kathryn B. Wells. All Rights Reserved.