Pastor's Corner                                                                                                         The Journey Home

            Carol and I were blessed to take some time off from the church in February and we had a wonderful time along the Texas coastline.  There is never enough time to do all we want to do (which is mainly rest!) and the time passes by so quickly.  And before you know it, time for the journey home.

            Many things about getting ready to go back home...  Looking at the waves, the pier, feeling the warm air and the laughing sound of hundreds of seagulls around us.  Carol and I take a deep breath one last time from the balcony and then…back to reality.  Start the packing.  Making sure we do not forget anything. Packing the car up with dirty clothes, souvenirs, suitcase and memories of our latest trip. One more look through the hotel suite. Done. Get the car washed to rinse off all the salt and sand.  Get gasoline. Get my trusted Diet Coke© and make sure Carol is comfortable and ready for the eight-hour journey back home.  We planned this get away for some time.  Truth be known, we have done this get away many times, and it always ends with the journey home.

            As good as it is to arrive back home, be greeted by a joyful Rufus who thought we would never return and sleep in our bed once again, with each day that passes (aka the older I get) I find myself thinking of THE journey home.  Fair question: do I prepare more for my journey home from a vacation than I do THE journey home to be forever and a day with my Savior? Spurgeon preached one day in 1875 at the Metropolitan Tabernacle - Newington in England about this very thing. In his sermon, “The Pilgrim’s Longings” Spurgeon said, “God is our portion, Christ our companion, the Spirit our Comforter, Earth our lodge, and Heaven is our home.” In the same sermon Spurgeon said, “When you speak of heaven, let your face light up; let it be irradiated by a heavenly gleam; let your eyes shine with reflected glory.” It is so easy to tell you about our vacation: the food, the sights, the hotel. But I want to be just as excited and convincing about my journey to my final home. I want my face to light up with a gleam of excitement in going home to my Savior with no fear of what I leave behind. Peter tells us about looking forward to our day in heaven in 2 Peter 3 when we are finally home. As you can find in Matthew 6:18-21, my treasure is not in my home here or my vacation spot but in heaven. With each day that passes now, I am preparing my heart, soul and mind for THE Journey Home.

            THE Journey Home is not something we should fear or dread but express with a glean in our eyes that reflect the Glory of our Father. THE Journey Home, no matter your age, could be a moment away. Are you getting ready?

 

Blessings to all,

Pastor Paul