His name is O. He's the lead, funny-looking, purple character man in the animated film Home. As a kid movie critic, I'll insert that this movie is definitely worth the RedBox wait if you haven't seen it already. I won't spoil the movie, but near the end, O, who is from an alien planet says this poignant line, "I has a new start on a new home and now everyday is best day ever." Aside from his broken English, he makes one strong point to which we, as God's people, can relate.
Some of us forget that this earth is not our permanent home. Some of us focus way too much on the matters of this world, giving very little thought to what's next. I know for me, this perspective becomes most difficult to manage because I can't see my new home. I don't know what to expect. I mean I've heard ministers and read passages, but I don't know for myself, which is the opposite of home to me. Home is supposed to be familiar and comfortable and known. It's like the place you begin and the place you go back to, so the feeling of home is often far away from me when I think about Heaven.
How do we change our daily mindset that "earth is home" into one that views "heaven as home"? I honestly don't know. But, in 1st Thessalonians 4, the Word gives us some starting points that equate to a few things to think about:
13 Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. 14 For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep.16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1. We must be informed about those who fall asleep in the Lord. They are simply sleeping until His return. They will live again. This is hard for me because I see death as such a permanent thing. It's been 12 years since my mom died, and I'm still working on this shift in thinking.
2. Our grief should look a little differently than that of the world. We should be sad and we should miss the deceased party, but we are to have a hope within our sadness that we will meet again. This part helps. I know my mom and granny and daddy and so many other loved ones are resting with the Lord, so it helps to know they are okay. Even though this helps, there are honestly days it still hurts.
3. The ones of us who are still alive have it the worst. Why? Because we are strangers in a foreign land. We don't always understand the natives and they look at us strangely sometimes. No matter how deceived we may be, this is not our permanent residence. So, the way they do things and the way they treat us will not always be comfortable because we don't belong here.
4. We are waiting for our Daddy to come pick us up. We are visiting this earth for our lifetime, however long or short that may be, much like going to spend the night at a friend's house or the summer with out-of-town relatives. But, if we are waiting for Daddy to come get us, we have to be ready. Have your bags packed-get to know Him for yourself. Call Him and talk to Him-pray without ceasing. Check in and let Daddy know we are okay!
5. Encourage one another. We have to have each other's backs. We need to be able to help one another stand on the Word and its promises for our lives and the lives of our loved ones during times of grief and bereavement.
In the end, these instructions are to help prepare us for our new home. In that new home, we will have a new start. There will be no more pain and sorrow. No more hurt and despair. No more betrayal and loneliness. No more corruption and deceit. No more divorce, death, injury, job loss, financial burdens...NO MORE! We will have a new home with a new start and everyday will be the-Best. Day. FOREVER! Be Blessed. XOXO
1. We must be informed about those who fall asleep in the Lord. They are simply sleeping until His return. They will live again. This is hard for me because I see death as such a permanent thing. It's been 12 years since my mom died, and I'm still working on this shift in thinking.
2. Our grief should look a little differently than that of the world. We should be sad and we should miss the deceased party, but we are to have a hope within our sadness that we will meet again. This part helps. I know my mom and granny and daddy and so many other loved ones are resting with the Lord, so it helps to know they are okay. Even though this helps, there are honestly days it still hurts.
3. The ones of us who are still alive have it the worst. Why? Because we are strangers in a foreign land. We don't always understand the natives and they look at us strangely sometimes. No matter how deceived we may be, this is not our permanent residence. So, the way they do things and the way they treat us will not always be comfortable because we don't belong here.
4. We are waiting for our Daddy to come pick us up. We are visiting this earth for our lifetime, however long or short that may be, much like going to spend the night at a friend's house or the summer with out-of-town relatives. But, if we are waiting for Daddy to come get us, we have to be ready. Have your bags packed-get to know Him for yourself. Call Him and talk to Him-pray without ceasing. Check in and let Daddy know we are okay!
5. Encourage one another. We have to have each other's backs. We need to be able to help one another stand on the Word and its promises for our lives and the lives of our loved ones during times of grief and bereavement.
In the end, these instructions are to help prepare us for our new home. In that new home, we will have a new start. There will be no more pain and sorrow. No more hurt and despair. No more betrayal and loneliness. No more corruption and deceit. No more divorce, death, injury, job loss, financial burdens...NO MORE! We will have a new home with a new start and everyday will be the-Best. Day. FOREVER! Be Blessed. XOXO
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