Christians are called to fix their eyes on the end of the journey in order to motivate endurance in daily living. That was the premise of today’s sermon from the final chapters of Hebrews. We are to fix our eyes ahead and run faithfully. We will receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken. While we diligently procure for ourselves earthly stuff, God has provided an indestructible home that will never be destroyed. The sermon gave relevant application about worshiping God with gratitude and awe. Let brotherly love continue. Show hospitality to strangers. Identify with those rejected by society. Honor marriage. Don’t love money.

The radically applicable part for myself showed up at the end of the sermon. “I find endless desire to make this my home–to be settled.” I wrote, “Good application for me–not feeling at home in California.” This concept actually came as a relief! I’ve been here three years and it’s hit me that I don’t feel at home here. I miss having weather. I miss the changing seasons and the green and the space between houses and silly things like stairs and colors on houses. I was feeling all guilty and trying to figure out how to impose “settled,” “at home” feelings on myself. This morning I realized not feeling at home is actually a good thing or can be. If I am grateful for all my life’s blessings–and they are many–and if I use my longings to point me Heavenward, my homesickness can be changed to something pleasing to my Heavenly Father.

I’ve always loved the second line of this hymn, “Yet in a foreign land, we are not far from home; And nearer to our house above we every moment come.”

I think of one of our pastors who recently moved his family just a few miles to be closer to the community they wanted to serve. He wanted his wife to be able to shop at stores and their kids to play at the park and talk about the church being built in their community. He wanted to look over sermon notes at Starbucks and invite neighbors to church, right next door. That family acknowledges that you can’t get much of a back yard in San Diego, but it’s all part of this particular mission field. It was easy enough for me to talk to David when we were courting, about our home being a mission field wherever we live, but in daily practice I tend to forget. San Diego is not exactly Africa–but it’s our current mission field nonetheless. I have a lot to learn in terms of being faithful where I am planted and…..longing for my Heavenly HOME where one day we will all fellowship together with Believers from all the ages and nations!