ON MY WAY HOME

Psalm 23:6

Thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever

David was truly “a man after God’s own heart.” His heart for God had its origin in his youth. The Twenty-Third Psalm captures this preoccupation. This psalm is loved by all, and many people think it was written in David’s youth. However, it was probably the capturing of his thoughts at the end of his life. He reflected on his days as a shepherd boy. And in those beautiful memories, he speaks to us about the next step in the life journey of a child of God: going to our eternal home. He sees the shepherd as good—not only for our past, not only for our present, but for our future.

I. Assured of God’s Promises

First, we are assured of God’s promise. “Surely” is a statement of faith, a statement of assurance. Certainty means everything when the difficulties of life surface; when the job folds up; when our child doesn’t get in the school to which we had applied; when we look in the mirror and realize our bodies are bending south; when the “zero” hours come and everything in life is turned upside down; when the lean seasons come and life seems like more dead ends than through streets; when, like Paul, “we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within” (2 Cor. 7:5), we need his “surely.”

The glorious reality is we have God’s promise, and “not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed” He has assured us of a place: “There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get your room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live” (John 14:2–3 The Message).

II. Accompanied by God’s Pilots

In that trip to join the Good Shepherd, we are accompanied by God’s pilots: “goodness and mercy.” What is God’s goodness? It’s the sum total of all his attributes. It is his character, the very nature of God. “The Lordis good to all” (Ps. 145:9). There is a common goodness to all, and a special goodness to his children. Someone has explained that “God is good to all in some ways and to some in all ways.”

What is God’s mercy? Mercy means “loving-kindness, tender affection.” In the ancient world, it was a love that flowed with deep emotion—even to those who were dishonorable,despicable, and unworthy. These two pilots of life do an amazing thing. They “follow me”—which is a war word, a military term that means “relentless, tireless, doggedly.”

David knew what it meant to be pursued. Much of his life had been spent on the run. And now he turns it into a positive picture. These guardian angels become a heavenly escort. Kyle Yates explains, “These twin angels of God will never sleep, never fail, never prove inadequate. They are a part of the provision of a loving God who has determined to give personal, individual help at even moment all life through.”

III. Aware of God’s Presence

Then, we are aware of God’s presence “all the days” of our lives. These brilliant angels walk before us, behind us, around us as constant companions, pointing us unswervingly toward home.

IV. Abides in God’s Place

Lastly, we have an abiding place. “I will dwell in the house of the Lordforever.” What did David mean by ‘the house of the Lord? “It couldn’t have been the temple in Jerusalem, because it wasn’t yet built. And it wasn’t the house he wished to build for the Lord, because he used the word ‘forever’ and no man-made house lasts forever. “No, it was something far greater than a house or a temple. It was another life. “It was an eternal home.” God intends for us to be home with him forever. We are never fully home here on earth. Everything is temporal here.

C. S. Lewis relates this idea to his conversion experience. “I have come home at last … this is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it until now.”

When faith is placed in Jesus Christ, our relationship with him as his children continues right on through our entrance through the doors of death when we will be ushered into the presence of our Father. That place is called heaven. Heaven is to be in the presence of Jesus.

“The Amplified Bible brings out the sense of this last sentence when it states, ‘Through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.’ Not only do we get the idea of an ever-present Shepherd on the scene, but also the concept that the sheep wants to be in full view of his owner at all times … from the sheep’s standpoint it is knowing that the shepherd is there; it is the constant awareness of his presence … providing a sense of security and serenity.” What a place it must be!

“No one’s ever seen or heard anything like this, never so much as imagined anything quite like it—what God has arranged for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9 The Message). But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.

Glen Payne, a member of the famed Cathedrals gospel singing quartet, suffered a losing bout with cancer and went to be in the presence of his Savior. His wife, Van, reported how he left this world. He would come in and out of consciousness and look wide-eyed toward the ceiling and around the room as if he was looking into eternity. He said, “Wow! Wow!” Over and over again Glen would say “Wow!” When he finally passed away, he was singing, “What a Day That Will Be.”When he got to the part, “When he takes me by the hand,” Glen took his last breath on this earth.

There’s only one way into the Father’s house. Jesus said, “I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture” (John 10:9 KJV). For any of you who have never begun the journey, you are invited to join us. For those who are on the journey, be encouraged. The best is yet to come![1]

Revelation 21:2-4

2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God iswith men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and betheir God.

4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.[2]‌

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