Reflections on the Road: Week Fifteen

 

Reflections on the Road

Week Fifteen

"There's No Place Like Home"

Focus Passage: Psalm 23

Focus Verse: Psalm 23:6

Bible Reading: Acts 10-17

      One of my hobbies is watching old movies.  There is nothing more riveting then an old black and white, film noir movie.  I could sit on the couch eating popcorn and snow caps for hours.  One of my favorite old movies is the Wizard of Oz.  The Wizard of Oz debuted in 1939 and was considered a theatrical success but a financial flop.  The movie didn't make a profit until it's re-release in 1949.  This iconic piece of cinema is the most watched movie in history.  We can remember the story of young Dorthy (don't forget her little dog Toto) being taken away in a tornado to the other side of the rainbow.  Her house accidentally killed the Wicked Witch's sister which started a Rudy Red Slipper journey on the yellow brick road.  On the journey she met a brainless scarecrow, a heartless tin man, and a courageless lion.  I won't spoil the movie for anyone who hasn't watched (there are flying monkeys if you are on the fence to watch it or not) but the penchant of the movie is 'there is no place like home.'  Each of us long for home.  We have fond memories of food, activities, and the layout of our home.  But there is a place where we have never been that will be more home to us then anywhere else we have ever roamed.  The Psalmist finishes on that subject matter.

      The sheep's testimony draws to a close in verse six when he writes "and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever."  The whole Psalm was a building crescendo to this conclusion.  The Shepherd had provided everything for the sheep: green pastures, still waters, protection, His presence through the valley of death, even goodness and mercy, but the final thing the Shepherd provides is a home.  Not just any home, but His own home.  Jesus, our Good Shepherd keeps a watchful eye on us while we trek through this earth  bound journey, but once we depart from this world we are taken by our shepherd to our eternal home, heaven.  Friend, our home is not just a home but the Scripture tells us that we will dwell in the very house of God.  Jesus said in John 14:2 "In my Father's house are many dwelling places (rooms)."  We do not receive some solitary abode on some random street in heaven.  The text indicates that we will have a room in our Father's House.  Let your soul meditate on this: in glory your heavenly Father will be right down the hall.  A room in heaven shows the nearness we will have with God, how dear our relationship will be with Him.  We can echo the words of the sheep, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.  We dwell with the shepherd because He laid down His life for us.

Reflections on the Road:

There is no place like home beloved.  None of us know when we are breathing our last breath, eating our last meal, giving our last hug, saying our final I love you.  Some reading this are on the closing laps of a race called life but because of your relationship  with the Shepherd you will go home to be with the Lord.  Our final reflection is simply you taking a moment after reading this and meditating on what heaven will be like.