Look up: Being Home

Intro:
I spent tonight on the phone with a dear friend that lost his wife last night at the age of 45. We cried. We shared about her awesome life. We recognized the hope we have in Jesus Christ. We cried. We prayed.

One thing we recognized was how set she is! She is with the Lord in glory. She sees Him! In the final moments of her passing my friend discerned a faint smile on her face. The moment she saw Jesus. She is home.

We, on the other hand, are still here and wondering. The hurt is anchored in harbor. The questions have landed on the tarmac.

Those of us that remain have choices to make. We will sow in tears and pray God that we might reap in joy! We know we will see our loved ones again ... when we get Home.

Read:
Psalm 126
A song of ascents.

1 When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed.

2 Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them."

3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negev.

5 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy.

6 He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.

Think:
Home is a place where the soul safely hides. Home is a light and ever full feeling*. Home is where all long to be.

For hundreds of years Israel was away from home in captivity. They lost their land, many family members, their worship center, their jobs. They got idols, immorality, strangers and slavery. For years they longed for home. For years they dreamed of the freedom and joy of being home.

This is the Psalm of the soldier that arrives home to loved ones ... but also the soldier that arrives Home to Jesus.

This is the Psalm of the prodigal running back to his family.

This is the Psalm of the man rescued from drug addiction and shame.

This is the Psalm of the sinner rescued by a loving God, cleaned up and given the best seat in the home.

This is the Psalm of Darryl, a man that lost his wife at the age of 45 and longs to see her again. This is his hope that his sorrow and trust is not in vain. This is his hope that he will be home soon himself where he will be reunited to his loved ones and see Jesus face to face.

This is the Psalm of me and you. Pilgrims, wanderers, prodigals, all ... longing to be at home with the Lord.

Do:
Are you going to make it home when you die? Have you met the Father of the house? He longs to know you. He longs to prepare a place for you to live forever. He sent His own Son to make sure we knew how to get Home. He made a way. Call out to Him and ask Him to show you how to know His Son and how to get home.

Please take an opportunity to pray for Darryl and those of us that live in the "Shadowlands" and long for home. Pray for his 2 kids as well. They are both in high school and have a lot to process.

Praise God that He has taken care of your need for a Home and that He is, even now, preparing a place for you so "you can be where He is". He longs to be with you.

Listen to Home by Daughtry in the DevoLink Worship Center.

*listen to the music of Michael Card for great insights to being "home".

DevoLink: Devotions to help you Link with God.