Welcome!
Passage: 1 Cor 15:20-58
Today: The beauty of being “home”!
27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there. (1 Sam 1, NIV 84)
When Hannah prayed for a son, God gave her one; but she was such a peculiar woman like no one else. She was determined to give her son to the Lord for the Lord’s work. As soon as the child was weaned, she took the child to the priest Eli. Samuel underwent a big “home-change”. It should have been very painful for both Samuel and his parents. The boy was the “life and light” of the home and now he is gone! But Hannah was so strong that she was willing to take it!
Separation is painful; the younger the person is, the more the pain. However, separation is inevitable. God brings lives into this world, and God joins lives together through marriage. God also calls people “home”, through death
Life is a gift from God; but the real life that God gives, is eternal, abundant life. Life on earth is just a “sampler” to prepare for the real, full life that God has!
Samuel’s life with his parents was very brief; he lived his real life in the house of God. He missed home, but he was always “home”!
Coming home is the greatest hope for everyone; as soon as work is over, people rush to their homes. When our work on earth is all done, that is what we do!
In a recent article, I read that women rush home sooner than men, at the end of the day; once they are “done” with their work, they just rush home!
Men, on the other hand, may make a stop “here and there”; they know that somebody is home, to take care of things!
Jesus is a great host; when people “come home”, he has beautiful mansions for “His own”; He does not just ignore those who worked hard for Him saying, “this is just what we have, and this is what you get”. He makes sure that “His own” gets His best! He gives them a “royal” treatment, for their hard work and suffering!
As each day passes, many are suffering for Christ, and many are becoming martyrs. Now, when people die in Christ, they go to Him one by one. But when Christ comes, it will be a “mass home-going”!
See what God tells Daniel:
13 “As for you, go your way till the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days you will rise to receive your allotted inheritance.” (Daniel 12, NIV 84)
As his home-going service happens today, may God fill the hearts of the family with peace that passeth all pains!
Have a blessed day!
BG
Prayer: Father God, thank you for reminding us that we don’t belong here, but we belong up there. As we live each day of our lives here, help us to live responsibly, giving glory to you and preparing our lives for you. In Jesus’ name; Amen
If we belong to God, heaven is our real “home”