It’s a Home Going, not a Funeral

Revelation 21:1-8

 

While teaching in the Columbus City Schools, my wife was invited to attend a funeral service by one of her students. Only when my wife referred to it as a funeral she was corrected by her student. “It’s a home going, not a funeral”.

 

According to Wikipedia, “the history of the home going service can be traced back to the arrival of African slaves in America. Early during the slave trade, slaves believed death meant their soul would return home to their native Africa.”

 

“When slaves were introduced to Christianity, the Old Testament stories of God and Moses freeing a captive and enslaved race resonated with them. The New Testament stories of Jesus and promises of glory in heaven and a far better after-life allowed slaves to forge through the turmoil of mortal life and look forward to the day when they would return home to the Lord.”

 

^2 “And I, John, saw the Holy City, the New Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven. It was a glorious sight, beautiful as a bride at her wedding. ³ I heard a loud shout from the throne saying, “Look, the home of God is now among men, and he will live with them and they will be his people; yes, God himself will be among them. ⁴ He

will wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying, nor pain. All of that has gone forever.”            TLB

 

This is a beautiful picture of our final home going. John’s words are a message of hope for all of us. The group MercyMe has a song that articulates that hope and how we might feel on that day when we are in the New Jerusalem in the presence of our Lord and Savior Jesus.

 

I can only imagine what it will be like
When I walk by your side

Will I dance for you Jesus
Or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence
Or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah
Will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

 

What could be any better than to be in the presence of the One who created us and faithfully loves us?

 

 

 

That will truly be a home going.

 

 

 

 

 

Lessons from a 4 ½ Year Old

Revelation 20:7-21:8

 

This is My Granddaughter, Everely. She’s four years old – 4 ½ according to her. This past Sunday at church when Everly walked into the building she spotted me at the end of the hallway, and she ran the length of the hall giving me a huge bear hug. That brought unbelievable joy to my heart and purpose to my life. What brings joy and purpose to your life?

 

In Revelation, John wrote about his vision. Like the title of the 1966 Clint Eastwood movie, “The Good, The Bad and the Ugly”, it included all of those elements. John begins with the defeat of Satan; moves onto the final judgement; and finishes with the vision of a new heaven and a new earth.

 

Both good and evil exist in our world today. In fact, if we are honest with ourselves, both good and evil exist in us. In a world conflicted by this, John’s vision brings us great hope, joy and purpose.

 

“Look! God now makes his home with the people. He will live with them. They will be

his people. And God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death.’ And there will be no more sadness. There will be no more crying or pain. Things are no longer the way they used to be.”

 

Today’s passage tells us that in the midst of judgement, evil, temptation, pain and suffering, injustice, hate and anger, immorality… there is hope. Not only the hope of the next life of a new earth and a new heaven; but hope for here and now. Hope for how we live today; hope for the struggles of life. There is hope with joy and purpose.

 

It’s kind of amazing how much joy and purpose my 4 ½ year old granddaughter brought into my life in that one single moment without even trying. How much more joy and purpose does our Heavenly Father, the God of creation, the Living God, give us with the promises of His Word. Now that is amazing!