Homecoming

"If the only home I hope for is the grave, if I spread out my bed in darkness, if I say to corruption, 'You are my father,' and to the worm, 'My mother' or 'My sister,' where then is my hope? Who can see any hope for me?" (Job 17 : 13-15 NIV)

The word "home" is truly an emotive word. It evokes passion and emotion in every heart when the word "home" is spoken. When the word "home" is heard, the ear stops to listen. Most people have positive nostalgic thoughts when they hear the word "home," and "homecoming," and "home sweet home." People even buy plagues for their homes that have the word "home" on them, such as "Lord, bless this home."

Even those who have not had a good "home life," nevertheless associate good feelings with the word itself. In their case, however, they know the meaning of the word "home" in mostly theory, but not in practice or in actual experience. Those who have had not had many positive experiences "at home" still have witnessed what is a "good home," and have longed to be in a "good home."

At one time Eden (Paradise) was the "home" of man. But, since his sin and rebellion against his Maker he has been expelled from Eden and now he can expect the grave to be his "home," yea even Hades and Gehenna too, unless Lord God in mercy redeem him and restore to him his blessed home.

Job spoke of the hopelessness of those who are lost and unredeemed, and who can expect therefore to dwell in the land of Sheol, a land of darkness and death, forever.

Man, because of his alienation from God, for his being "cut off" from God, does not feel "at home" with the Lord, but rather shuns his presence and HIS home and dwellingplace.

"Like a bird that strays from its nest is a man who strays from his home." (Proverbs 27: 8 NIV)

This is what Adam and Eve did when they sinned against God. They "strayed" from their spiritual home with God. They forsook the place of safety and peace when they rebelled against their just and good God. But, Lord God in great and tender mercy yet calls Adam and Eve, and every sinner, to "come back home"! He said this to Adam and Eve when he interrogated them with the question - "where are you?" The Lord knew where they were, so he was not asking this question for information, but in order to elucidate a confession and to call their minds to focus on where they are now that they have sinned, as opposed to where they were previously. "Where are you?" "Are you not away from home with me, away from being "at home" with me in your heart and in my heart?"

"Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I swear with uplifted hand that the nations around you will also suffer scorn." 'But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD." (Ezekiel 36: 7-11 NIV)

"At that time I will deal with all who oppressed you; I will rescue the lame and gather those who have been scattered. I will give them praise and honor in every land where they were put to shame. At that time I will gather you; at that time I will bring you home. I will give you honor and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your fortunes before your very eyes," says the LORD?" (Zephaniah 3: 19, 20 NIV)

These verses speak of Lord God "bringing home" his chosen people. It has a literal or material fulfillment and a spiritual one. The Lord will bring the redeemed nation back to the land of Israel, and will fulfill to them every promised blessing. But, surely this "bringing home" involves the restoring of fellowship with the Lord in heart and spirit. Surely it includes the regeneration and spiritual rebirth of the nation.

"How lovely is your dwelling place, O LORD Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young—a place near your altar, O LORD Almighty, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Selah" (Psalm 84: 1-4 NIV)

David realized that he was often "away from home," and away from the Temple and House of God; And, not only in a physical sense, but in a spiritual sense, being "away" from the heart of God, the true home and dwelling place of the blessed.

"Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him." (John 14: 23 NIV)

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me." (Revelation 3: 20 NIV)

When a sinner is saved and born again, when he comes to Jesus in heart and spirit, and when Jesus comes into the heart of the sinner, the sinner may be said to have "come home" to God.

"He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise." (Proverbs 15: 31 NIV)

This is what every Christian may say of himself. He has "come home." He has been restored, in part, to Eden's bliss and glory. Because of his rebirth he is "at home" with the Lord, with his people, with the "wise." Rather than his life being characterized by a bird "straying from the nest," or from its "home," the sinner is as one coming back to God's rest, to God's dwellingplace, to God's "home."

The story of the "Prodigal Son" is a story of a wayward son who left the safety and blessedness of his "home" to go live in sin in the world. Later, after he had ruined himself, and "came to himself," he "returned home" to his Father's house and heart.

"But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness." (II Peter 3: 13 NIV)

"I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings." (Luke 16: 9 NIV)

"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. We live by faith, not by sight. We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive what is due him for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad." (II Corinthians 5: 1-10 NIV)

These verses speak of heaven being a "home" for the Christian when he dies, and when he temporarily leaves his body in death. They also speak of the "new heavens and the new earth" as being the future eternal home of the righteous. They also speak of the future resurrected and glorified bodies of the saints as being their new home.

"Also when they shall be afraid of that which is high, and fears shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and desire shall fail: because man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets..." (Ecclesiastes 12: 5 KJV)

This is true whether we are talking about the grave (as Job) as being our home or of heaven's home. Certainly those in great suffering and near the gates of death long for the grave and the peace they think they will there enjoy. And even more certainly is the fact that the righteous, when they die, go to be with the Lord in heaven, and are truly "at home" with the Lord.

"And when he was come into the ship, he that had been possessed with the devil prayed him that he might be with him. Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee. And he departed, and began to publish in Decapolis how great things Jesus had done for him: and all men did marvel." (Mark 5: 18-20 KJV)

Surely the practical application of the words "go home to your friends and tell them" are seen in the experience of sinners who "come to Christ" for salvation and forgiveness of sins, and who go to the church or community of saints and testify of their experience with the Lord in salvation. Thus, the church is a "home" to the Christian. He is with others who are all "at home" in heart with the Lord, who in spirit are dining and living with him.

Friend, you can have a home now and one forever. Your home does not have to be in Sheol, in Hades or Gehenna, or in Hell. You can have an eternal home if you will but turn to the Lord today for salvation and for your every need. Will you do so today?