Title: “My Hometown, My Land”
Contents
People who visit their hometown are called homecoming guests.
If we think about it carefully, we are all spiritual returning visitors to our heavenly hometown.
But we must think of the Father who is waiting for us. Even if it is hard and painful, we should yearn for it with a joyful heart.
It is the path of the pilgrim who has to keep the faith to fight the good fight and run.
Why should we yearn for heaven? What's the secret?
First, because the hometown (hometown) of life is not the earth but heaven.
Saints are not strangers. He is a pilgrim to his hometown. A stranger is an aimless person. There is no home to return to. So I'm a stranger.
However, the saints are the children of the Lord who go to heaven.
It is a nation that only goes by faith in Christ Jesus.
That is why he says, "Blessed are those who die in the Lord (in Christ / faith)" (Revelation 14:13).
God called Abraham, established him as the father of faith, and made him a source of blessing.
However, he never gave him a land to settle in while he lived on this earth, and made him live as a sojourner.
It was to let people know that the eternal hometown of life is not the earth but heaven. So his descendants also lived as strangers. In particular, Jacob lived as a stranger for 20 years, but it was not that Jacob did not go to his hometown, but God did not allow him to go. This is the secret of the Bible.
Second, the believer must be sure of the spiritual birthright in his heart.
You should not keep the brisket (species) for a long time. In a sense, we are obsessed with slavery to the world.
There are many times when we become slaves to sin and live with our hearts occupied with things that will perish. The parable of the returning prodigal son is not just what we are.
The reason I cannot return to my hometown is because of shameful sins. I don't go because I don't have a mug.
But the Father does not see the lost world. He knows the heart (love) of the Father and is waiting for him to return.
He wants you to know that life is in the Father. Children (life) are not born by humans. Jacob realized this (Genesis 30:1-2). And when he gets the son of faith Joseph ("God has washed away my shame"/Genesis 30:22-23) through his wife Rachel, whom he has waited for 14 years, Jacob will begin to return to his hometown (Genesis 30:25-26). ) says.
Who is Joseph?
Isn't it Jesus Christ who died on the cross to wash away our sins and atoned for our sins (John 6:46-51).
Only those who believe in Jesus receive forgiveness of sins, and only those who receive forgiveness of sins can go to the Father's house (heaven) and long for that kingdom. Only the firstborn of faith can receive the authority (justice) of children of God.
Third, only those who have hope in the Lord can return.
life is me It is something you have to leave behind everything. Life is what we have to return to with empty hands (Job 1:21).
So David said, "What shall I hope, in You alone is my hope" (Psalm 39:7).
We must put our hopes in heaven.
Christian writer C.S. Lewis said, "The person who has served the most on this earth is the one who yearns the most for heaven.
Who are you? What are you working for now? Let's live with hope (purpose) in heaven (Hos 12:6; Matthew 6:33).
“Let us look to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).