GOING HOME

You've been on the road so long now that the days just seem to run together like spring loses itself into summer. Oh, by the way, what day of the week is it anyway? Well no matter, it's almost over. You turn the corner and there it is. You begin to drive by the same trees you drive by nearly every day of your life. But today they look somehow greener and brighter than usual. The car bounces as you hit the big pothole in the middle of the road which you've hit just about every day for as many years as you can remember. But today you don't even notice it. You suddenly feel more alive and refreshed than you have in days. At last you turn up the driveway. You turn the car off and just sit there for a moment, your body still a little numb from the endless hours of driving. You open the car door and a cool but gentle breeze greets you. The air doesn't usually smell this fresh does it? You manage to pull yourself out of the car, and after a good relaxing stretch, make your way up the walk to the front door, and try to remember which key fits the lock. After finally spotting the right key you unlock the door and begin to open it. Then it hits you, "I'm home!"

There is just no feeling in the world quite like seeing your house coming into view as you return from a long trip. Anyone who has ever taken a very long vacation will know exactly what I'm talking about. After two weeks of sleeping in strange beds and eating nothing much but fast food. After driving who knows how many miles (and getting lost a few times along the way). A feeling of near ecstacy begins to develops as you near home. The closer you get the better you feel. Is there anything quite like the sensation of satisfaction and relief experienced by the weary road warrior as he returns home?

But how excited are you about going home from this life? Are you ready to go home and face God? The Bible tells us that we are nothing more than strangers and pilgrims here on this earth. (I Peter 2:11) Someday the vacation will be over. But as you round that familiar corner for the final time how will you feel? Will you be happy to be going home? Will the trees indeed seem greener and the air fresher? Or will the trees appear to be almost drooped in shame as you pass by? Will you feel that pothole in every joint and muscle of your body? After you park the car and open the door, will cool refreshing breezes caress your skin? Or will you have your breath nearly taken away by a blast of hot stifling air which seems to have arisen form the fiery furnace of hell itself? As you unlock the door and look inside, will you see a great throne surrounded by an innumerable host all dressed in white. And sitting upon the throne, God with His arms outstretched, inviting you to come home to Him for ever. Or will you instead, see millions of tormented souls writhing in unimaginable pain and anguish. Their faces contorted almost beyond recognition because of their immense pain. And in the middle of this crowd your eyes meet the stare of Satan. He is also suffering, but your appearance brings him a brief moment of reprieve. He looks at you and grins. Finally he just breaks out laughing. Then he says in an evil and demented voice, "come in my son, you are home at last."

One day we will all turn the corner for the last time. We will come home for eternity. But what kind of home do you have to come home to? Our lives are nothing more than pilgrimages toward our eternal homes. We may at times get lost along the way, but God will see us safely home if we will let Him. He has given us a road map to guide the way if we will use it. That is, of course, the Bible. If we follow it we can't lose. But if we turn away from it we can't win. I can still remember as a child watching Dorothy on "The Wizard of Oz" clicking her heels together and saying, "There's no place like home." That is so true. There is no place as horrible as Hell, and no place as wonderful as Heaven. But one of these places will be our home for ever. Where will you be? Are you ready to go home?