Time for a New Home!

Agnes Sieglaff

      We go through many changes in life.  From infancy to toddler, to kid then teenager, we change from young adult to middle age and finally to senior citizen.  Each of the stages in life forces us to address new and different circumstances in life.  As a child our time is consumed with play and childish things.  In our middle years we busy ourselves with establishing a home and providing for the future.  During the later years in life is supposed to be a time of relaxation and reflection.  It is also during this time of life that many people are forced to think about a new Home. 

      To some that might mean moving off the farm to an apartment in town, to others its moving into a nursing home.  But the older you get the more you think about your move to your eternal home. 

            All three of our texts for today suggest that everyone will come to a “Time for a New Home.”

1)    A time for everything

a)     A time to be born

i)        Agnes was born twice

(1)   First to her parents

(2)   Secondly to her Heavenly Father through Baptism

b)    A time to Die

i)        Agnes died twice also

(1)   She was born to sin inherited through Adam and Eve

(2)   She also passed from this life to life eternal last week

(a)    A journey that began at birth

(b)    But was accelerated 3-4 years ago with the onset of her illness.

c)     For us there is also a time for everything

i)        A time to weep and mourn

(1)   She was a special person who freely loved those around her

(2)   She had a special love for her nieces and nephews

(3)   She loved the traditional holidays and family celebrations

ii)      For all these we will weep and mourn

iii)    There is also a time for laughter and celebration

(1)   Agnes has made her final move to heaven

(2)   She is no longer suffering from a terrible disease that robbed her dignity

(3)   She is with her savior and singing in the heavenly choir

(4)   There will be nor more sorrow suffering and pain

iv)    For this we indeed can celebrate and even laugh

2)    Agnes has a new home

a)     All who believe and trust in the life death and resurrection of Christ will receive a new Home, the Holy City, Jerusalem.

i)        God lives and dwells with His redeemed.

(1)   They feast at the banquet table prepared in their honor

(2)   The Can see God in the flesh

ii)      Because of the blood of the Lamb that has taken away all sin, God has called them his own and welcomes them to place he has prepared

(1)   Jesus sacrificial death prepared our eternal life

(2)   He has ascended to heaven to prepare for each believer a heaven mansion.

(3)   He is the Way the Truth and Life

b)    Agnes believed in Christ.  She is a recipient of His unconditional love.

i)        She has received her crown of life and robe of righteousness.

ii)      God has wiped her tears from her eyes.

iii)    He has welcomed her to her final and eternal home

3)    We look forward to being together again

a)     All who believe and trust is in Christ can also expect to receive this same heavenly home. 

b)    While we wait four our reunion in heaven, it is God our Savior who comforts us and allows us to change into an new season in life.

c)     A season without Agnes, but with the assurance that our separation is only temporary.