There’s no place like home. Home is a place of developed uninhibited relationship and acceptance. Home has security and familiar rest. We have our home, our belonging, and our citizenship in the place where we expect to dwell – the home where our rest and relationship surround our Father who delights in us and draws us to Himself.
From this expected place of our belonging, we eagerly wait for the Savior. Paul said having our citizenship in heaven is a matter of hope. Where there is hope, there is peaceful rest. This rest is not passive inactivity, but a peaceful perseverance in the anticipation of a confident expectation, and focused behavior free from distraction.
Life in the present is motivated and directed by a finely tuned awareness of the values and priorities of our future home. We live in real anticipation of that moment when our Redeemer appears and “we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is” (1 John 3:2). Thus we can pray, “Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10).” What is done in heaven that can be done on earth? It certainly includes worship, service with delight, and others-focused community.
In the traditions of biblical times, when a man betrothed a woman, the man would go and prepare the home that he and his bride would share. When the task was complete, at an appointed day, the groom would return to take his bride to himself. Meanwhile the bride was making herself ready. She was often found speaking of her betrothed and investing her time, resources, and relationships faithfully mindful of the day to come. When the groom finally appeared there would be no element of surprise, no hint of “What are you doing here?” in her response. Instead, her eager waiting found her living life motivated by the love relationship and the anticipation of her permanent dwelling place – the place of her belonging.
“And now, little children, abide in Him, that when He appears,
we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at His coming.”
1 John 2:28
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