Longing For Home

I find myself in a new life, with new commitments, a fresh and new perspectives and a new opportunity to walk with God. He is refining the gold and removing the dross in the flames of life.

So many times we fall, and fail, and I am in one of those times. Not quite understanding what had happen and not quite sure of the path ahead. 

But I find that holiness is not about how many times we have failed to meet the mark, rather how many times we have stood up and continued our Walk Of Faith. 

We may always be challenged in the differing areas we all possess, until God takes it from us, the failures and tears, but it is He who began the good work in us AND IS faithful to complete it. It is not a catch phrase but a truth of God.

But am I up to the task of knowing God and following His will for my life?

Many have the tears been this year, culminating in a month of being lost, afraid and lonely. It is in those times that God especially shines in our lives. And I long for the clarity of His light and the warmth of His presence. The Bible starts in Genesis telling us to be perfect and then ends in Revelation with the same admonishment. How can we strive to such a lofty goal?

We can't ....but God can! And I must trust the path He has set me on to accomplish just that. So many times He has called us into His glorious light and His eternal presence. If we remain steadfast and obedient we have victory, if we stand aside and let Him guide us, and secure our faith, then we can meet the lofty goal.

It doesn't mean that I don't have a fear that needs His comfort, or loneliness that needs His comforting touch. It just means I need Him even more: more tangible and real in my life. As it says in I Corinthians 10:13 that HE will provide the means to meet the challenge and conquer it. What can after all challenge God?

He always prevails. But do you believe it, do you desire it, is it the cry of your soul? Is it the cry and longed for goal in my life? I hear admonishment to me: walk in wisdom knowing that the kingdom of heaven is within each and every one of us, and that God still sits on the throne THERE. And since God sits on the throne of heaven then HE is within us as well and for me that is a great comfort without measure.

Or how would one interpret the meaning that in Him we move and have our being? Right now I feel that I move in a place unknown and unfamiliar, but I must trust that He is there as well.

He is not a phantom, but real, so very real. Since He is there, and thus can always be reached, we must understand that we can do anything, especially to please Him by letting Him express in our lives. And His light expresses even in the darkest of times. And my walk seems so dark right now.

My choice is to be clean, holy and secure in Him, not lost, ashamed and downtrodden because I did not let Him express in my life. It is always a simple choice. Will I take the road home as the returning prodigal son of God, or remain lost, weary and in need, adrift in a world bent on rebellion to God, and hence strangers to His gift of everlasting life?

It really is that simple, no matter my circumstance.

In this year look to God. Not vain prophecies of those who know Him not, yet still declare a special and exclusive relationship with Him. Let's not get lost in striving for the milk of the world, but rather found once again, in the meat of God's truth. Will there be tears?

Yes. And again, I have shed many. Will there be setbacks? Probably more than one would want and desire. But God gives richly to those who endure. Endure what? Those who endure the refining fire, the purging, pruning and the steadfast admonishment to deny ourselves in order to acquire God Grace directly, and amazingly, in our lives!

Seek the higher realms of immortal glory, because there you will find God, waiting, loving and intent on bringing us home. And I for one want to go home. I long for the warmth of God's hearth, His laughter and joy, and His everlasting love.

These are the things I long for, even though this world can truly be a 'veil of tears'....

Originally posted in 2004