At Home With The Lord
Introduction
Home is one of those precious words in our English language. It is a term that best describes Heaven. No wonder the Apostle Paul confessed during his lifetime that he was, “hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better” (Phil. 1:23). No genuine Christian lives very long without being homesick for Heaven. The wonderful thing about it is that when the call comes, it is a question of absent from the body’, present with the Lord, or more literally at home with the Lord.
I. The Heavenly Home is the Place of Reunion
“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thes. 4:16-17).
Next to the unutterable joy of seeing our Savior, Heaven is going to include the happy reunion with loved ones and friends who have gone before us. “Friends will be there I have loved long ago; Joy like a river around me will flow; Yet, just a smile from my Savior, I know, .Will through the ages be glory for me. O that will be glory for me, Glory for me, glory for me: When by His grace I shall look on His face, That will be glory, be glory for me.”
II. The Heavenly Home is the Place of Recognition
“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” (1 Thes. 2:19). These were the words Paul used to sum up the anticipation of recognition in Heaven in addressing his precious converts in Thessalonica. Someone once asked the saintly George MacDonald, “Shall we know one another in Heaven?” The pertinent reply was, “Shall we be greater fools in paradise than we are here?”
There is a whole area of scripture which supports the conviction that we shall know one another in Heaven. Moses and Elijah were recognized at once on the Mount of Transfiguration, and our blessed Lord, after the resurrection, was recognizable to His followers. Yes, we shall recognize one another in Heaven.
III. The Heavenly Home is the Place of Restfulness
“There remains therefore a rest for the people of God” (Hebrews 4:9). This will not mean inertia or inactivity, but the blessed and eternal rest from:
1) The Defiling Power of Sin
“But there shall by no means enter [Heaven] anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life” (Rev. 21:27).
2) The Distressing Power of Suffering
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more… sorrow” (Rev. 21:4).
3) The Disrupting Power of Separation
“And … there shall be no more death…” (Rev. 21:4).
IV. The Heavenly Home is the Place of Rewarding
“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work” (Rev. 22:12). Thank God for those who have served faithfully. There is the anticipation of the day of reward better than any crown of dignity and promotion and that will be the Savior’s smile and to hear Him say, “… Well done, good and faithful servant.… Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matthew 25:21).
V. The Heavenly Home is the Place of Rejoicing
“… with exceeding joy” (Jude 1:24). Someone has called heaven the place of laughter. What a home heaven is! Well has the Apostle Paul described the departure for heaven as “… to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord” (2 Cor. 5:8).
Conclusion
This is where our dear friend has gone and while we mourn the departed and the sense of separation, hallelujah for the heavenly home, the true destiny of every genuine believer. Occasions like this make us more homesick for heaven than ever. Let us press on then toward the day of His coming, or else the day of our receiving. Amen
