NOT HOME YET

This week we celebrate being in Newport 7 years. We really love it here. It is ‘home’. The church family & community have been wonderful to us. Sure, there have been ups & downs here like anywhere, but we feel truly ‘at home.’

I still remember the homesickness I felt years ago as I left for college. I was in music groups or revival teams & traveled most weekends so I went home very little. I remember going homes weeks after college started finding my mother had painted my room & put butterflies & ‘girly’ things on the wall. I realized I had left & would never truly home there again.

I remember the first time I felt at ‘home’ in college. I had traveled all weekend with two different groups & logged in hundreds of miles. I came home beat. I felt ‘at home.’ I knew I would never be back home & in that safe place of childhood. I realized that wherever I was the Lord was with me & I was ‘at home.’

Fast forward almost 3 decades & thousands of miles later- Sometimes I come home from a long week, many miles or meetings later & look forward to being home with my family. Sure, it’s no mansion but it’s home!

While we feel comfortable here & hope the Lord leaves us here for years to minister, I never want to be complacent. Though I love it here, this is not my true home. I don’t want to get so comfortable that I forget, as a Christian, I am not home yet.

The bible says it this way, “Our bodies are like tents that we live in here on earth. But when these tents are destroyed, we know that God will give each of us a place to live. These homes will not be buildings that someone has made, but they are in heaven and will last forever. While we are here on earth, we sigh because we want to live in that heavenly home.” II Corinthians 5:1-2 CEV

I was recently reminded of a true story of an old retired missionary. He & his family had served much of their lives on the African continent. After all the years of service they were retiring heading ‘home’ to the United States. As their ship was docking, the president was also returning from abroad. There were hundreds awaiting the leader’s arrival. The old retired couple had no one there to greet them.

The wife realized her husband was quiet & disturbed. She asked, “Honey, what’s wrong?” He shared how disappointed he was that no one was there to welcome them home after giving their lives in service of the Lord. She encouraged him to take his hurts to the Lord.

After a short time she saw he was back in good spirits. She asked, ‘Honey, what did the Lord say?” He replied, “He reminded me I’m not home yet.”

While this is home & we love it, we are truly ‘not home yet.’ Steven Curtis Chapman wrote a song several years ago that speaks to that thought. You can find it on the ASUN BCM web site link below.

www.myspace.com/davejacksonnewport.

Also Dave Jackson on facebook

Dave’s Desk –blogspot- http://bcmasunewport.blogspot.com/

ASUN website www.bcmasunewport.org

Dave Jackson-Campus Minister djackson@absc.org

cell 870-217-9376