Homecoming

"Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Fathers house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.  I go to prepare a place for you.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.  And where I go you know, and the way you know."  Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going, and how can we know the way?"  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through Me.  If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him.
John 14: 1-7 NKJV

There is that moment when we will suddenly feel no more sadness, shed no more tears and have the answers to every question we've ever known.  It is in that very instant when we who have known Christ Jesus will at long last be called home.  That blessed place with many mansions for which Jesus has already prepared a place for us.  This is the moment we have heard of, worked for and dreamed about.  Like the "Shoeless Joe Jackson" character Ray Liotta portrayed in the film field of dreams, we may find ourselves wondering, "Is this heaven?"  Of course, we may already know the answer to this question.  For this is our ultimate destination and reward, this is our homecoming.  Christ Jesus has already laid the groundwork for our eternity in paradise.  For without His sacrafice, we may be left on the outside looking in.  As Jesus tells us in John 14, "No one comes to the Father except through Me."  Therefore, we who have trusted in Christ Jesus have been granted the right to be heirs to the kingdom of God {{Romans 8:17}.  It is the ultimate reward for a life in Christ.    The apostle Paul refered to it as the end of his race, whereupon he would receive his crown of righteousness.  The patriarchs of old from Abraham to Joseph all waited in anticipation of the moment they would be called home.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.  For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father."  The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs-heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.  For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Romans 8: 14-18 NKJV

There are still many today who consider their lives and times on this earth as the be all end all.  Many of these hearts have not yet known Jesus.  For had they known Him, they would have been privy to the glorious future He has promised for those who trust in Him.  How dark an outlook has he who has not known Christ Jesus!  For to him each passing day is a countdown to a uncertain eternity.  To him there is life, then nothing.  I have spoken with many people who hold this belief in their hearts, and it is at times painful for me to witness them living thier lives without the promise of Jesus.  Who will tell them?  Who will share that gospel of Jesus?  For our Lords purpose is that all would come to know the truth of  Christ Jesus and be saved {John 3: 16-17}.  How wonderful a day when we will stand before the throne and hear those blessed words, "Well done, good and faithful servant."

~Scott~