Homesick

The other day I was remembering when I moved into a dorm room on campus when I was 18. At first it was so exciting, I had untold freedom to do what I wanted, and make my own decisions. But after a while, it got a little overwhelming, and I missed being at home. I was homesick. Defined, it is a longing for home and family while absent from them. (MW)

There are days when I am homesick for heaven. My home away from home. Heaven to me is a beautiful home, beyond imagine. It is also a happy one, because Jesus is there and I get to be with Him in my forever home, basking in His glory.

In Exodus 33:18-23, Moses asks to see God’s glory. The Lord replied, “I will make all my goodness pass before you, and I will call out my name, Yahweh before you. For I will show mercy to anyone I choose, and I will show compassion to anyone I choose. But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.” The Lord continued, “Look, stand near me on this rock. As my glorious presence passes by, I will hide you in the crevice of the rock and cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will remove my hand and let you see me from behind. But my face will not be seen.” [NLT]

How cool was that? God protected Moses with His hand and let him see some of His glorious presence!

“No human being in our present condition can see God in His essential being and live to tell about it. God is so utterly beautiful and thrilling that the mere sight of Him would fill us with so much joy we would burst and it would kill us!” (Dr. Winfred O. Neely)

“Breathtaking brilliance and awe-inspiring majesty from his shining presence. His stunning beauty overwhelms all who come before him.” (Ps. 96:6 [TPT])

But it gets better—read on!

“We are convinced that even if these bodies we live in are folded up at death like tents, we still have a God-built home that no human hands have built, which will last forever in the heavenly realm. We inwardly sigh as we live in these physical tents, longing to put on a new body for our life in heaven, in the belief that once we put on our new ‘clothing’ we won’t find ourselves ‘naked.’ So, while living in this ‘tent,’ we groan under its burden, not because we want to die but because we want these new bodies. We crave for all that is mortal to be swallowed up by eternal life. And this is no empty hope, for God himself is the one who prepared us for this wonderful destiny. And to confirm this promise, he has given us the Holy Spirit, like an engagement ring, as a guarantee. That’s why we’re always full of courage. Even while we’re at home in the body, we’re homesick to be with the Master—for we live by faith, not by what we see with our eyes. We live with a joyful confidence, yet at the same time we take delight in the thought of leaving our bodies to be home with the Lord. So whether we live or die we make it our life’s passion to live our lives pleasing to him. For one day we will all be openly revealed before Christ on his throne so that each of us will be duly recompensed for our actions done in life, whether good or worthless.” (2 Cor. 5:1-10 [TPT])

Now that’s the kind of homesickness I can get behind! How about you?

“Since we are those who stand in holy awe of the Lord, we make it our passion to persuade others to turn to him. We know that our lives are transparent before the God who knows us fully…” (2 Cor. 5:11 [TPT])

The saying goes that when you die, you can’t take it with you. But based on the verse above, the only thing you really can take with you when you go to heaven is—other people! So get to passionately persuading people, living our lives with eternity in mind!

And I leave you with this blessing from Numbers 6:24-26 [NIV]:

The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

© 2020 Fluffy Puppy Publishing All Rights Reserved