Finding Our Eternal Home

In moments of uncertainty and disquiet, the notion of home becomes a powerful beacon of hope. In today’s sermon, the speaker reminded us of Jesus’s comforting words found in John 14:1-3: “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” These verses resonate deeply in our troubled world, offering a vision of a place where we truly belong.

As we walked through this significant passage in the Gospel of John, we reflected on the emotional turmoil that the disciples faced on the night before Jesus’s crucifixion. Jesus, knowing their hearts were heavy, spoke tenderly to them, urging them not to let their hearts be troubled. He recognized their fear and confusion, and sought to ease their distress by redirecting their thoughts toward the promise of eternal home.

Home is a concept filled with varied meanings and experiences. The speaker acknowledged that not everyone has fond memories of their childhood homes. “Even the best of homes still leave some wounds and some scars on our spirits.” This acknowledgment is vital, for it allows us to understand our longing for a place where we can truly rest and be ourselves. Many may experience a ‘homesickness’—a yearning for something deeper and more fulfilling than what this world can offer.

Jesus promises that He is going to prepare a place for us, highlighting that our future home is not just a mere concept, but a reality already being arranged. His words remind us that our rooms are reserved, and our names are inscribed on the doors awaiting our arrival. The speaker illustrated this point beautifully with an anecdote about a hotel room reservation that welcomed his daughter by name—a touching reminder of the personal nature of this promise.

In sharing the trials faced by the early disciples, who would wander and suffer without a true earthly home, the speaker emphasized that our heavenly home is designed to counterbalance the tumult of our earthly experiences. This promise underscores the depth of Jesus’s love and commitment not only to His disciples but to all of us: “I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

As we pondered the implications of life and death, the speaker encouraged us to embrace the understanding that death is not an ending but a passage—a shadow cast upon our journey that leads us home. Reflecting on Romans 6:23, which states that “the wages of sin is death,” we were reminded of Christ’s sacrifice, which transforms the shadow of death into a mere transition to everlasting life.

In this life, we may feel alien, as Hebrews 11:13 reminds us: “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them.” Our true citizenship lies beyond this earth, in a kingdom prepared for those who trust in Christ.

As we close, let us take this message into our daily lives. Consider reflecting on your own experiences of home. Where have you found joy, and where have you felt the ache of loneliness? Let us lift our hearts in prayer, asking God for a proper perspective on our earthly existence and what it means to live as His ambassadors in this world.

May we also remember that we are not alone in our longing, for we have the promise of a heavenly family. God, as a father to the fatherless, invites us into His care.

We invite you to join us at Knox Evangelical Church, located in Old Strathcona just north of Whyte Avenue in Edmonton, to explore these themes further in community. Check the Knox Event Calendar for updates and opportunities to connect with others on this journey of faith. Together, let us reflect on our eternal home, encouraging one another as we navigate the complexities of life, ever striving to be the family God has designed us to be.