Ahhh…the comforts of home!

It’s interesting how we adapt to our surroundings so quickly. When we moved to Peru, we had a lot of adjustments to make. Visitors to our hometown are usually only with us for 10-15 days, so there are a lot of things they must quickly get used to. Returning short term missionaries are reminded each and every time they come that some of the comforts of home are just not available and soon they are back in the swing of living in San Juan de Lurigancho, even for a short period of time!

Returning to the states we were re-introduced to so many comforts of home that are unavailable where we live in Peru. For example, during our recent stay, we enjoyed God’s creation in nature more than ever. In another blog, we wrote about our trip to the lake in the mountains. Day after day we marveled at the blue sky, lawns, landscapes, gardens, crystal lakes and even birds and butterflies! You may not think of these as comforts, but they bring to us a peace and comfort that is missing in the neighborhood where we live.

Some of the luxuries we soon were re-acquainted with included showers with a great spray and constant water pressure and temperature, running tap water which we can drink (without boiling the water), rinsing tooth-brushes under the water faucet, multiple small kitchen appliances, television, literally thousands of choices in the local grocery store (including low fat, sugar free, and low salt), hundreds of titles at the book store (all in English!), pickles and relish, ribs, pork loin, salad choices, blueberries, and several options of coffees to enjoy!

Having a set of wheels to get up and go whenever we wanted to, to visit family, run errands, keep appointments, shop, and go to church. It’s amazing how much that is a privilege. Not having to carry a backpack and walking everywhere, or to a bus stop, is certainly a luxury! Openings doors and windows without hearing barking dogs, hawking vendors, bullhorns, bicycle bulb horns tooting, and taxi horns; what a privilege!

The list goes on and on and we appreciate each and every one of these comforts! As usual, while I’m thinking about the comforts of home, I can’t help but think of our destination, our eternal home! Ever think of that? Right off the top of my head (and yours, too, if I’ve led you to thinking about it) we know:

our ‘treasure is to be laid up in heaven’
Matthew 6:19-21 "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

And Matthew 19:21 Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me."

our ‘rewards are in heaven’
Matthew 5:11-12 Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Luke 6:20-23 Looking at his disciples, he said: "Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven

and heaven is where we have our citizenship and will be with the Lord forever
Philippians 3:20-21 For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.

John 14:1-3 "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

II Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens

Revelation 21:3-4 our eternity is described here, where God will be with us!
“Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

Okay, so I admit it, I got off to thinking more and more about what scripture says about our future, the future for those of us who are sons and daughters of God the Father. I looked up several verses to share with you, (I looked them up because I couldn’t quote them; so sad!) and know that many of our pastors and teachers could do such a better job than I have on this subject. Simply put, we enjoy many comforts on this journey we are all travelling but this is not our final destination! As the old song goes, ‘we are just a paassin’ through’. That destination should be what we are looking forward to even if it means giving up something along the way, as He has called us to do. Our eternal home is the only comfort we can fully depend upon.