I recently put Jodi on a train to visit our son and his family…ok…our grandson and his parents (smile). As the station made the call for the train, the announcer mentioned the many and varied stops between the station and Jodi’s destination. Train 89 to Savannah will depart in 5 minutes with stops in….
Now the point of the trip was to arrive at the destination and see family. Period. Full stop. But consider what it would have been like if she got off the train in Wilmington, Fayetteville, or even in Charleston. Nice cities. Lots to do and see. None, however, are what was of ultimate importance, and none were her intended destination.
How sad it would be to evaluate the entire trip based on an experience in a city along the way. That’s a lot like the Christian life. We are created for a purpose. We have a destination. There are experiences along the way and each one is useful but none of them are the ultimate point. Don’t question God’s purpose for your life or His caring actions toward you based on the conditions you experience around you. You’re not home yet.
If this life in this world seems less than satisfying, take courage…you’re not home yet. You are passing through. You are meant to learn and gain and be shaped by your experiences, but the stopover cities are just dots on a map. You were made for more. Stop trying to make the cities of this world like home. They will never satisfy.
That reality is the heartbeat of the memory verses for our church this week:
8By faith Abraham, when he was called, obeyed by going out to a place which he was to receive for an inheritance; and he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9By faith he lived as an alien in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, fellow heirs of the same promise; 10for he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
Hebrews 11:8–10 (NASB95)
Press in. Press on. Look to the horizon. You’re not home yet.
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