Going Home

I am writing this blog post as a declaration   

Someday, my life here will end.  It may be tomorrow – it may be fifty years from now; but one of these days will be my last. 

It will be the most wonderful day I’ve ever experienced.    

Don’t get me wrong – I love my life.  I love my family and the joy they bring to me each and every day.  I am surrounded by God’s creation and evidence of His handiwork.   I love to laugh and make memories.  I love music, writing, eating and reading.  Everyday I’ve been alive I’ve had the opportunity to live a full, happy and purposeful life.   

It has been beautiful.  I am so blessed.

Yet, the longer I’m here the more I see just how fallen this world is.   This world is not what it was meant to be.  I’m surrounded by evidences of the fall each and every day.

In nature.

In mankind.

Most of all: In myself.

I am on a journey.  As an eight year old child I called on Christ to save me.   He redeemed to Himself and for the past forty years I have been surrounded by His everlasting love, been sustained by His limitless power.  I have found security in His continual faithfulness, been pursued by His loving discipline, and experienced His unending mercy to me – each and every morning.   He has loved me deeper than I could ever love Him, and every day I find I love Him more.    The longer I live my life away from Him - the more I long to be with Him. 

I think about what that day will be like when I get to see Him face to face for the very first time.  It’s going to be wonderful!   The older I get, I find myself thinking about it more often.   You see, I’m closer now than I have ever been to getting to experience this meeting. 

When I breathe my last breath, I want everyone to know I enjoyed living.   But I LOVED dying because dying will take me Him.   No sadness, no broken relationships, no death, no sin, no struggle. All evidence of the fall will be gone.   He will be there.   I will be with Him. 

So, when that day happens, remember how eagerly I anticipated it.  As you realize I am gone, take a moment to imagine the instant I saw Him face to face.  Imagine our embrace – me and my Savior.  Imagine my first words to Him, (the words I've whispered to Him so many times) :  “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”  

And imagine the joy that filled my heart when I heard Him say, “Welcome Home!” 

    

 My last day on earth will be my first day at Home.