Home

It feels so good to be home. It's been 2 and a half years since I was last here in Spain, and I am so grateful to be back. I was just sitting on the couch at my family's house this morning thanking God for allowing me to be back and to be refreshed in this way. I'm home alone for a few days until my parents and sister get back from visiting my aunt and uncle in France, but even just being inside the house itself feels so good. When I stepped through the front door yesterday (after spending a half hour looking under all the flower pots in the front yard to find the keys) it was like a load fell off my shoulders and I could finally relax.

Even though I saw my family just last spring, I've spent the last 4 years living in dorms, grandparent's houses, friend's houses, and an apartment with roommates. And even though all of those places were "home" to some extent for a long time, they weren't "home, home". And even though that seems obvious, it didn't really hit me until this morning.

After realizing that, I couldn't help but wonder what it's going to be like to "walk in the front door" of New Jerusalem.

And we won't even have to look for the keys under the flowerpots outside. ;-)

How amazing is that day going to be? That's something that I don't think the church talks about enough anymore. How often do we encourage each other (like Paul did) with the promises of heaven? When was the last time that you heard your pastor talk about how great that day is going to be? When was the last time that you pictured it in your mind? Colossians 3:2 says to "let heaven fill your thoughts."

I think that sometimes we don't do that because we don't know what it's going to be like. But we know what coming home feels like. And I find that whenever I think about that and how great it's going to be to be able to finally drop my baggage at the door for good and walk inside without worrying about having to leave, and when I see Dad look up and drop what He's doing to come running over and give me a hug and tell everyone, "My son is home!", I can't help but get teary eyed.

That's what waits for us. Be encouraged. Encourage others. Let that thought give you joy as you go back to work, as you sit in class, as you mow the lawn, as you help your neighbor move, as you worry about your budget next month... Keep life in perspective. One day we'll be home. :-)