Waiting to Go Home

"Waiting to Go Home" What does it mean? Why did I choose that phrase as my site name? Why is this important? I will endeavor to answer these questions in this post.

"Waiting to Go Home" means that I, along with other Christians, am waiting to go to my true home—heaven. I chose this phrase as my site name because it reminds me of why I am here on earth. The true and catechismal answer: to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Here on earth I have the responsibility to do just that, but I look forward to a greater, better, most fulfilling life in heaven. "Waiting to Go Home" reflects the idea that I have not yet arrived at home. I am waiting to ascend to my true home.

Why is this idea—waiting to go home—important? I will strive to answer this question in three parts.

This idea is important because: it gives me a reason to hope; it causes me to live my life in such a way as to prepare for heaven; and it causes me to look forward to eternal life with Jesus Christ. These three, the culmination, bring me great joy.

Reason to Hope
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear.” -1 Peter 3:15

As a Christian, I am responsible for being able to explain why I hope. God has promised that His children, myself among many, will sit in heaven with Jesus. Those who endure will “receive the crown of life.”

I hope because I believe what God has told me: that He will save me from my sins and grant me eternal life in heaven. Without the idea of an afterlife, life is hopeless. I believe that is the reason why so many religions include the aspect of an afterlife. However, only through Jesus Christ will someone enter into the kingdom of heaven.

When this life seems dark, sinful, and ugly, I can look forward, with joyful hope, to the next life in the presence of God.

Preparing for Heaven
With the knowledge that I do in fact have hope and that this life on earth is temporary, my chief goal lies in preparing myself for heaven. Although salvation is by grace alone, Paul states in Romans 6:15, “What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law but under grace? Certainly not!” Although I long for heaven, I must live my life for God here on earth.

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” -Matthew 6:19

While here on earth, I strive to lay up for myself treasures in heaven, obeying God and producing fruit.

Eternal Life with Jesus Christ
The ultimate prize, the ultimate reason why I am waiting eagerly to go home, is my anticipation of life in heaven with Jesus Christ. In a previous post I spoke of my excitement about spending eternity with my best friend, Jesus.

Not only has Jesus taken away my sins, but He also gives me daily joy with the beauty of creation, and the joys of life. There is beautiful imagery in the Bible about what heaven will be like, a place so wonderful we cannot fathom it. Not only will heaven be wonderful, but I’ll be basking in God’s eternal love.

Kingdom of Heaven
Paul constantly speaks of the ‘hope within us,’ because it is the reason to stay alive. It is the reason to live well, the reason to do hard things, the reason to hope for heaven. I can hope because I know that my God has forgiven my sins and will mercifully bring me into heaven when my time on earth is through.

I look forward to heaven with great anticipation, with intense joy, because I will be spending eternity with my Lord and Savior. He is the Alpha and Omega. He loves me unconditionally and like no other.

“Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” -1 Peter 1:8

I’m still waiting---waiting to go home.