Keys to the Kingdom By Carolyn Tucker

Welcome Home

 

I recently purchased a replacement porch mat for the front door. This one has “Welcome” printed on it; my old one didn‘t. As I admired how nice it looked because it was new, I also realized that “welcome” is a very inviting word. The mat actually gives a friendly  greeting before anyone steps foot into my home. I have a decorative sign in the kitchen that reads, “Welcome Home.” The word “home” includes an additional warmth. Where I come from, that means whatever I have is yours with all my love and prayers. John Denver composed and performed the song “Back Home Again” and it won the “Song of the Year” award in 1975. A couple of my favorite lyrics in Denver’s song are: “It’s the little things that make a house a home” and “supper on the stove.”

 

When believers die, we’re going to go Home, although it’s a place we’ve never been and have only read about. But I’m confident we’ll feel more at home in Heaven than we have on  earth. My daughter Mariam and son Aaron performed B.J. Thomas’ song entitled, “Home Where I Belong” at their dad’s memorial service. Heaven is a home where everything is magnificently perfect and everyone is filled with love. This is not just wishful thinking either. “God can do anything, you know — far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams!” (Ephesians 3:20 MSG).

 

I’ve attended hundreds of funeral services and the standard Bible passage that’s used to encourage the family is: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:1-3 NKJV). Jesus is telling us to not be worried or anxious, but to believe God is Who He says He is.  We are to grab hold of the promise that Jesus is preparing a Home for us and, if we remain faithful, we can live with Him for eternity.

 

I helped my late husband build our home in 1980-81. It seems like just a few years ago, but time is beginning to reveal some normal wear and tear. The New Testament states that God is the architect and builder of Heaven and deterioration cannot happen there.  Jesus said: “Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal” (Matthew 6:19-20 NLT). Our time on earth is meant to be spent loving and serving God and loving and serving our fellow man. Our lifespan gives Jesus time to build the perfect home for us when we wave good-bye, world, good-bye.

 

“For this world is not our home; we are looking forward to our everlasting home in heaven” (Hebrews 13:14 TLB). The address of my current home is temporary — as long as I’m on planet earth, nothing is permanent. We need to remember that this life is not all there is. It’s been said that, “Life is not all it’s cracked up to be.“ Generally speaking, I don’t believe that. But some days are better than others for sure. Believers are going to live forever in an eternal Home of bliss because God is sitting high upon His Throne.

 

The Key: God’s welcome mat is always out and the Light is on for believers coming Home where they belong.