Homecoming

By Gobel Brockman


Today is our Homecoming service at church. Usually this is a time to catch up with old friends, and grow closer to new ones. A time to look towards the future, while remembering how we got here. But for me, Homecoming services always cause me to think of something else as well. In the Book of Hebrews, the Bible refers to Christians as "...pilgrims and strangers in this world...". It's always a reminder to me that this world is NOT my final destination.

In I Corinthians 15, a very interesting statement is made: "If it's in this life only that we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable." I've always thought that the 'prosperity' preachers must have had this verse torn out of their Bibles. You can go to any Christian bookstore and see row after row of books on how to "Prosper", "Live the best life!", and the like. We all want to be happy, we all would appreciate a trouble-free life. There's only one problem with that - that's NOT what we've been promised. We want to forget the verses that say things like, "In this world there will be tribulation..." "If any man wants to be my disciple, he must lay down his life, take up his cross, and follow me." Which all brings me to my point for this week - we as Christians are simply too attached to this world.

I'm not trying to be critical - I'm just as guilty as anyone. I'm simply saying we sometimes exhaust too much energy on things that won't last. I watch people protest things and wonder if they realize how little time they have left in this world, and how little change they may see. Jobs, money, loved ones come into - and out of - our lives. Things we think we can't do without are gone in a matter of moments. Plans are made that never come to fruition. I think we just need to be reminded that, as the old hymn says, "This world is not my home, I'm just a-passin' through". I want to live a life that honors what I say I believe, and part of that belief is that 'to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.'

Homecoming. Sounds good to me.