Where Do You Call Home?

Five years ago, my wife and I moved to Colorado Springs. We could have moved to San Antonio, Texas, where our son lives or here where our daughter lives. Both of our children would be great to live near, but the summer heat in Texas had just become too much.

This was not our first move. Mary grew up in Billings, Montana, and I grew up in Temple, Texas. We met at Baylor in Waco, Texas, and married between our junior and senior years of college. As a couple, we have lived in Waco, Arlington, San Angelo, Stephenville, Flower Mound, and Denton, Texas. Now we are in Colorado.

When someone asks, "where is home," I always answer "here." Many people respond with their hometown or place of birth. I have always seen home as where we are living as a family. So, each of the towns mentioned in the paragraph above have all been "home" to me at various times. Each of those locations are filled with memories, friends, and favorite restaurants and things to do.

Interestingly, when someone has inquired about where we moved from in Texas to Colorado, I usually say "the Dallas area." Not everyone knows the names or locations of all the towns in Texas. Once I answer, the person usually names a town in Texas where he, a friend, or a relative has lived or still lives. In the last few weeks, I have heard the following:

• "I grew up in Cooperas Cove. I bet you have never heard of it."

• "I have a brother who lives in Belton. Do you know where that is?'

• "My mother lived in Holland (Texas). It is really small, and I am sure you don't know where that is."

• "I did my basic for the Air Force in San Antonio. Ever been there?'

• Several years ago after being introduced as from the Dallas area and preaching at an English speaking Korean church in Canada, I was asked by one of the young men - "Dallas! Do you know Troy Aikman?"

• On my way through customs at a Canadian airport, I was asked where I was going by the customs agent. I replied to the Dallas area. She then asked me what town. I said Flower Mound, you probably have never heard of it. She replied that she had just returned from her vacation in Flower Mound to visit her daughter and new grand-daughter.

The list of meetings of people in various places who have been where you have been can go on and on. The reminder is that although we live on planet Earth that has over 200 countries scattered around our globe, travel and movement has made our planet smaller than it has ever been.

My grandparents and my parents never lived outside of Bell County, Texas. I have a few friends that could still make that statement. That is home for them. But many others, like us, have had places we call home in many locations other than the community of our births. Our children will probably have more than us in the course of their lifetimes. And as for grandchildren and great-grandchildren, as Dr. Seuss wrote, "Oh, the Places You Will See."

However, no matter how many places on this planet we call home in our lifetime, all of them are only temporary. There is a classic hymn of the Southern Gospel variety entitled: "This World Is Not My Home." Below is the familiar chorus.

"This world is not my home, I'm just a-passing through,

My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue;

The angels beckon me from heaven's open door,

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore."

Our life on this Earth is short, 70-100 years go by quickly. Then what? The words of Jesus recorded in the Bible tell us that He has prepared an eternal home in heaven for those who put their faith and trust in Him. John 14:1-6 records one of these truths.

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.  In my Father's

house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a

place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.  And you know the way to where I am going.”  Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

I have called many places home over 79 years. I know that by faith I have a final eternal dwelling place that is called Heaven that will be my final home. My prayer this week is that all who read this article also know that heaven is their final home because each one has placed their faith and trust in Jesus alone. This is made possible because Jesus took our sin and punishment on the cross and God accepted Him in our behalf validated by His resurrection.