What kid doesn't like Rainforest Cafe? My grandson Riley was so excited to see this amazing place with all his favorite animals, until the gorilla came to life! In his terror, one word came out of his mouth, which he repeated over and over again - home, home, home!
Don't we all long for home? As we see this world getting darker and darker, and we see so much to fear from the nightly news; we are troubled and feel unsafe. We long for the comforts of home.
We can look longingly back to a happier time and sweet memories of home. College kids get homesick, even servicemen can be heard talking with their buddies about longing to go home. Remember Dorothy clicking her ruby slippers in the Wizard of Oz, repeating, "There is no place like home, no place like home."?
And yet, not everyone has fond memories of home. Some run away from pain, abuse, and darkness at home, which raises the ultimate question - what is home? Clearly home isn't just a physical place. The idea of home is essentially a refuge, a place to run to and be safe.
Consider this in Hebrews 11:8-10:
By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to the place that he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
Like Abraham, we know that we look forward to a home that is not here, not made with human hands, a home whose builder and maker is God. We look forward to our eternal home, hidden in Christ, seated in the heavenliness.
One of Ruth Graham's daughters was going through a painful divorce and was afraid to tell her parents. What would they say? But Ruth Graham told her simply this, "Home. Come home."
I have learned, and am still learning, this precious lesson about home. When Lloyd and I were called out to leave the comforts of our familiar surroundings in California, to say goodbye to friends and relatives and move to New Jersey, I learned that, on earth, home is where God moves me to be. He is with me, and where He leads would always be my home.
When my mother passed several years ago, I had to learn that all over again. God reminded me again, He would heal my broken heart and be my Comforter. Ravi Zacharias shares a story of his own grief as his mother passed. He found himself saying over, "Gone! Gone! Gone!" Someone asked him, "Gone where?" To which he understood, "Gone Home. She's gone home."
Colossians 3:1 says to set our affections on things above, where our life is hidden in Christ. Heaven is our real home.
Francis Thompson, in a beautiful poem "Hound of Heaven," expressed frustration at God chasing him, to which writes the Lord saying, "Do you see anyone else chasing after you? All which I took from you I did not take for your harm, but just that you would seek it in my arms. All this child mistakes fancies as lost I have stored for you at Home. Rise up clasp my hand and come."
That is our invitation ladies. Whatever we are facing, whatever disappointments - lets grab hold of Jesus, and there find ourselves safely, comfortingly, home.
