A billboard in my town advertising a relatively new housing subdivision shows a little girl nose to nose with a puppy. That precious scene is supposed to shout “This is your home!” like no other, right? Who wouldn’t want a place to lay your head where a little girl and a puppy are safely engaging in play within reach of the “homemaker” (aka photographer)? A place where you enjoy such a special scene that speaks of love, loyalty, companionship, relaxation, and trust.
But “home” is not a place.
Yes, our homes are the gathering place for these moments, like a shrine that represents our sweet points in time where all of those qualities are overflowing in measure, a place where memories are honored, respected, and captured in a gleam of hope that such beauty will come again.
But they are temporary.
For Alex and I, married 17 years now, we’ve lived in five apartments and three houses. We’ve also vacationed in other rented houses, cabins, hotels, etc. All of these places hold special spaces in our hearts, for every one of them have one thing in common—Us. Whether we are alone, with our children, with friends or both, we are happiest wherever we are together with those we love. Togetherness speaks of that loyalty, companionship, and trust that our human souls seek.
But togetherness is not permanent.
If we are aware of the value of a day, we treasure each one of them, knowing that this life is fleeting. Just as houses fall into disrepair or could burn down, we can lose our loved ones in the blink of an eye. And we are especially aware of that loss during the holidays when many of those precious memories are being and have been made.
But there is still hope.
No, “home” is not a place. It’s not the houses or the people or even the memories. “Home” is a Who—THE Who, the One who was, is and will always be—the permanent Home and the only perfectly secure, forever faithful Who that we can truly count on. In Jesus, we find the fullness of tenderness, the origin of loyalty, the truest of companions, the source of rest and relaxation, and the most trustworthy person that has ever or will ever exist, even though we cannot see Him.
But He’s here, waiting for You. Jesus is but a prayer away.
Dear Lord Jesus, I know that I am not perfect—I am a sinner, and I ask for Your forgiveness. I believe You died for my sins and rose from the dead. I turn from my sins and invite You to come into my heart and life. I want to trust and follow You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You for being the trustworthy friend that I need to walk with me the rest of my days on this earth and to go Home to when my days here are done. Amen.
The Art of Choosing True Life 