Longing For Home

I took this photo of a wildfire from the side of the highway the other night... a few miles from my current home. I am on an evacuation alert, and have been advised to pack up my valuables and be ready to leave at a moment's notice. Other than the photos of my children, there's really nothing valuable. Knowing I could be leaving this home, possibly never to return, has intensified my longing for a place I have never seen. It is my home...but I have never been there. I am journeying towards it...but I am not sure when I will reach it.

We all have a longing for something more than we are experiencing now. God has set eternity in our hearts. He created the longing. He wants us to want Him. This world is not our home. That message screams at us from many directions. The poverty, starvation, lies, sexual abuse, betrayal, hatred, fear...make it clear this is not where we belong. It's not what we expected.

I remember being surprised as a little girl...realizing this place is not safe. I knew something had been stolen. Innocence, purity, kindness, love...all were being held hostage at times. I knew the foster homes I lived in and the bloodsucker wedged between my toes were not supposed to exist. I thought the picture was supposed to be beautiful...it often is...so I was shocked to see ugliness creeping in.

Once upon a time the world was perfect...flawless...glistening with purity and beauty. Sadly, our first parents weren't satisfied with Eden. Walking and talking with God daily, the Creator and Sustainer of all that is, wasn't enough. They wanted more.

They had a pure, crystal clear glass of water, but chose to drink pond sludge instead. That putrid water was poured into all of human history, permeating and poisoning everything. Beauty was traded for ugliness. Hope and abundance were exchanged for despair and lack. The tree of life was traded for the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

In life, there are really only variations of two stories...the one that was and the one that is. The first story was crumpled up and thrown in the trash can. The second story was handed to Adam and Eve as they were banished from Eden. That story was written on filthy parchment... many parts were covered so the horror of those parts of the story could be revealed over time.

But, in our hearts we know there's more. We long for the wonder of the first story. One amazing day, when we step over Earth's doorstep into eternity, we will become part of that beautiful, forever story. "So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed." John 8:36 We will be free from the law of sin and death...free of all that is not of God. We will be like Him. If our hope and trust are in Him...we can call Him Abba... Daddy. So amazing. God loves you more than you can imagine.

There's a place for you, in my Father's house. If He is not your Abba, call on Him. Ask Him to forgive you...believe that Jesus paid for your sins...gave His life so you could live...so you could have a forever home. You will be forgiven. I am so thankful our real home can never be destroyed. Can you imagine how incredible it will be to be home with God forever? Blessings, Beloved.