Rev (Dr) Quek Suan Yew

                                                                                                                      LONGING FOR HOME

HOME never appeals more than when we are away from home, even when we are on vacation. Although vacation is a wonderful and blessed time spent with loved ones and friends, yet there’s no place like home. The frequent packing and unpacking of bags to travel from one place to the next is a constant reminder that we are not home. New places and sceneries thrill the heart but not the soul, for the soul knows that the ever changing new vistas remind us that we are not home. The heart knows that soon the vacation will end and the burdens of life with all its challenges will return when we are home. And despite these challenges of life, the heart cries for home; it is still the place to be.
For others it is when they are going through trials or sickness that they long for home. It is likened to the strong electric current surging through the core of the electro magnet pulling us along toward home. The stronger the current of trials, the stronger is the pull for home. But should we desire for home only when dark clouds loom in the horizon? Surely not! Home should always be a place we have the strongest desire and longing for, simply because it is HOME!

What is home to the child of God? – Home is where our Heavenly Father is. How sweet will that day be when we go home to be with our Heavenly Father and see His SON our Lord Jesus Christ with His nail pierced hands. There will also be myriads of angelic beings praising and serving God. Saints of both the Old and New Testaments who have died in Christ Jesus will also be home in heaven. There will be a great reunion and feasting with the Triune God together with all our loved ones who have gone ahead. Home is where our eternal family resides. This home knows no separation or goodbyes.
Home is safe and secure and free from the dangers and vicissitudes of this sin sick world. Lies and liars become things of the past never to be heard of or to be encountered ever again. Debauchery and immorality and fornicators and adulterers will be excised and barred from contaminating the holiness in heaven. No more evil men and evil deeds. No more diseases and deaths. Only that which is pure and lovely as described in Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." There are no quarrels in this home. Everyone loves one another in this blessed home. It is a perfect home dwelt by only perfect people where the perfect God rules and His perfect Word resounds and obeyed and loved by all who are home.

Where is home to the child of God? – Home is Heaven. It is a real place. It is more than the new heaven and new earth described by Isaiah in chapter 65. That is a description of the earthly millennium recreated by the LORD after His second coming to separate the sheep from the goats! Heaven is much more than the millennium, for in the millennium there will still be sin and death. The millennium lasts only one thousand years whereas home in heaven with God lasts for eternity. In Heaven there is no more sin and death but only saints with the glorified bodies. It is an eternal dwelling place of perfection and holiness. The Bible calls it the New Heaven and New Earth. The following is a description of our eternal home:
a) The general description of the New Heaven and New Earth -- Revelation 21:1, "And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea." More description is found in Revelation 22:1-5, "And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him: And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads. And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever." The old heaven and old earth will be destroyed after the millennium. All the past sins and sinners and Satan and his demonic followers will all be sent into the Lake of Fire from which there is no escape. Only all that is good and holy and glorified will be found in the new heaven and new earth. This new heaven and new earth have never been touched by sin nor ever will be. This is the eternal home that awaits all believers in Christ.
b) The new eternal capital city -- Revelation 21:2, "And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband." The details of this New Jerusalem are recorded in Revelation 21:9-26. The meaning of this New Jerusalem is explained in Revelation 21:3, "And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God." It is our eternal home where God will make his dwelling place with men! The name Jerusalem will be the only thing from the old earth that remains. All kingdoms need a capital city. The capital city of God’s children is the great and glorious New Jerusalem where Christ the Lord will reign forever.
c) Those left out of the New Heaven and New Earth -- Revelation 21:8, 27, "But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. . . . . And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life." Professing believers who live in sin need to check their salvation today. Many of the sins mentioned above are not criminal in nature but are serious sins sufficient enough to bar them from entering heaven! The first and the last on this short list are the sins many professing believers commit, including pastors, elders seminary and Bible College teachers! These are grievous sins and not trivial ones. Liars and fearful ones beware! There are those who tell lies like breathing. It becomes so natural to them that the line between truth and lies is merged into one. They do not even know that they are lying because they have done it so often and so well. The fearful ones are those who dare not and do not defend the Name of Christ and His holy and perfect Word. When you read of or hear someone say that the Word of God has mistakes, or who denies that God has preserved His Word perfectly, do you rise to the occasion and defend God’s Word and His honour or do you simply keep silent because you are afraid or you just do not care?
d) The eternal occupants -- The saints who will dwell in the New Heaven and New Earth are the ones who will have the glorified bodies. They need the glorified bodies to dwell in the eternal glorious Heaven. 1 Corinthians 15:42-44, "So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption: It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power: It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body." The eternal environment demands an eternal body which God will give to all who believe in Christ with all their heart. They are the ones who love and obey the Word of God today on earth. They are the ones who love God’s holy life, for they have life eternal. Those who disobey love death. Proverbs 8:32-36, "Now therefore hearken unto me, O ye children: for blessed are they that keep my ways. Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.
e) It is eternal but not without time -- The saints will live in eternity where time goes on into infinity. But that does not mean that there is no time. The Tree of Life will bear a new fruit every month. Therefore by the changing of the fruits on this special Tree, the saints will live in time. Revelation 22:2, "In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations." Time will be very enjoyable. It will never run out for all glorified believers. There is no need to worry about time. The sweetest fellowship that is unimaginable to us today will be our eternal enjoyment in the presence of our ever loving and gracious Heavenly Father with all of God’s people and His holy angels!
Why do we not long for Home? – Based upon what the New Heaven and New Earth will be like, it is wrong for us to long for Home just because of the present dark clouds in our lives. Every saint should long for Home simply because it is HOME! This HOME is special because all believers on earth have never been there before and yet there is a longing. This is most unusual but very real. The reason is because our heavenly Father is there. Where the Father is, it is HOME. When we arrive HOME one day, it will be a place that feels familiar even though we have never been there before. The feeling is very similar to one who knows the Bible well, has never been to the Holy Land of Israel, and when he goes there for the first time, he feels that he has been there before. There is a feeling of "deja vu" that cannot be explained but felt.
So why don’t some of the saints have this longing for Home?
a) Do not like HOME – Sadly there are those on earth who do not like home. Their home is a place of pain and sorrow that brings sadness and nightmares rather than peaceful bliss. When parents are divorced or are not on good terms, home is a place of insecurity. When parents are carnal and care only for the material world, home is superficial and transient. It is like the dew that appears for the moment and disappears by noon. With such tragic experiences, believers do not long for home, for they fear that their eternal home is like their aweful earthly home. Such ignorance can be overcome through the diligent study of God’s holy Word where the eternal home is carefully described and understood, that it is powerful enough to discard and replace all wrong notions of HOME.
b) Not living for Christ -- It could be that these saints are not living for Christ. They live for this world and for self-centred self. Their eyes do not see beyond the horizon of Sodom and Gomorrah the way Lot never did. They live in Sodom and Gomorrah as if the treasures are on this earth. Learn from the mistakes of Lot and do not waste your life away. Such believers who see Lot as their example to emulate need to check their salvation because Lot was a warning to not follow. What motivates you every day when you wake up? It has to be the love of Christ. Do you desire for things holy and for the Word of God? This desire is a fruit of salvation in Christ. Do you love the Lord’s Day and keep it holy unto the LORD and not do what your heart desires but what the Lord desires according to Holy Scriptures? This love reminds believers that there is no better place on earth wherein to have sweet fellowship with God’s family before the all loving heavenly Father. These experiences will cure the sin of not living for Christ.
c) Not serving Christ -- Others who do not long for Home are those who are not serving. They do not share Christ with others including their family and friends. They live unto self only and are Sunday only Christians. Going to church for worship every Lord’s Day is either a chore or a ritual. There is no more fervency and love for God and for God’s people. They look forward to the work week rather than the Lord’s Day. The desires of their heart are still for the things of this world. If they have really drunk from the Living Water then they should never thirst for the things of this world. If they have truly eaten the bread of life then they will never hunger for the bread of this world. If they have really eaten the Bread of Life then they would not eat the bread of death (materialism) that the world offers.
d) Not really born again in Christ -- The saddest group are those who might not be born again. They have no longing for Home because Heaven is NOT their home. They think they are saints but in reality they are only pretending to be saints. They have all the external characteristics of saints but they deny the power that every saint possesses which is internal and every saint knows in his heart he has. There will be many of such "saints" in the last days. Let us heed the warning in 2 Timothy 3:1-5, "This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, ... Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away." They call themselves believers but in reality, their hearts are darker than the darkest night! Sin is still their master.
Why are we not at Home? – God wants us to remain and serve Him in order to impact the lives of others in a godly way. Until our service is completed on this earth we will continue to be away from Home. It is not an extended holiday but an extended service with a deep longing for Home. There are many who have yet to receive Christ. 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance." The sins of the world are not yet full. When the LORD takes us home at the first resurrection and the rapture, it is a very perilous time for the world. Just as ambassadors are recalled home by their leaders when war is about to be declared, the first resurrection is like the recalling of all believers who are God’s ambassadors Home when the wrath of God is about to be unleashed upon the sin-filed earth! It will be a great time of sorrow for the world! This is the night that will come and we can no longer serve.

Let us hope that all of us are able to say with the Apostle Paul when he opened his heart to the Christians in the church in Philippi, in Philippians 1:21-26, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again." Let us serve with new zeal and fervency before we go Home!

All born again believers must long for HOME. The apostle Paul puts it this way in 2 Timothy 4:6-8, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
Do you long for HOME?