John 17:15–16 (ESV): I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
We are aliens in the purest sense!
It is crazy how much this world can feel like home, right!?
We were aliens before we were born. You and I were born into sin but also born into God’s redemptive plan. Our home with God was aborted through sin, but John 1 tells us the Word that saves us has always been, so the plan for redemption has always been.
The sin we were born into and joined with through our first sin committed took us from our home.
Our home has always been with Jesus. Where ever Jesus is, that is home. All this world has to offer you in its homeliness, and I mean in the best way – the way God intended for it to be… came from Jesus, to begin with.
Jesus created home. Jesus is home. Home is not in this world. How can I be so sure? Because Jesus says that he is not of this world.
If Jesus is not of this world, he is saying that there is no real home for him here. But, trust me, he had family and close friends. Jesus knew love and great experiences. He saw the sunrises and sunsets. He saw snow and beaches. He held babies and experienced deep relationships and richness with the elderly. Yet, this world was not his home.
Jesus is home. Not that he is in the place he calls home; that is true. But, he is in the place where his home is. I mean that phrase this way, where ever Jesus is, that is the place where you and I will find home.
If it is on the dark side of the moon in the most desolate place in the universe, when we get there, it will be home. The reason is that Jesus is the originator and author of home. Therefore, all home experiences come from his heart.
Jesus wants you to experience home. Even the lost experience the love of God by experiencing the love of home. He puts that into the hearts of people, all people.
As we mature in our faith, we understand this more. Once we do, the Bible will become more plain on the matter and will teach us about our true home.
You can count on it – if the Bible tells you that this is not your home, then there is a place where home is. And that place will be far better than any dream we have of home here on earth.
On earth, our homes are susceptible to brokenness, and try as we may, the enemy wants to destroy any experience of home. We can spend our whole life trying to reconstruct what we believe we deserve in the way of a healthy home. There is no benefit in doing that. It is great to have memories of a wonderful upbringing. But all of that is to point forward to the place and time where there is no possibility of brokenness entering into family ever again.
We heal and restore today, so we can see and experience the home Jesus is giving us. He loves to heal and restore our homes today to show his power and love. He heals and restores today to provide you with a picture and hope of what we will have with each other and him one day.
His desire is that those who call him Lord would feel this homeship today, inside their hearts, and in intimacy with others.
Matthew 6:33 (ESV): But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Make the best of your home here on earth. Find it if you can; thank God if you have. Remember that, at best, in the most blessed of circumstances, it is simply a foreshadowing of the home we have and are being drawn to.
We are being drawn to Jesus; he is our home.
Father, thank you for your Son, Jesus. Jesus, you made our home, and you made a way for us to find home. We are family through your sacrifice. One day we will know the true meaning of home; help us to be mindful of this world and your world. Please help us to feel strongly your constant invitation to look to your world for our fulfillment. Thank you, Jesus.
Blessings,
Pastor D
