"HOME BY DARK"

"Be home by dark" was a phrase I often heard as a youngster from my mother. I rode my bicycle for hours, played sports, hiked to the top of Table Rock, and hung out with my neighborhood buddies. Even growing up in a small town in the 1950s where the crime rate was nil, my mother had concerns for safety. She wanted me home by the time darkness arrived.

There is a sense in which we like to be home by dark. There's something comforting and secure about that. Home should be a secure, safe, happy and delightful place where warm, loving, and caring relationships are enjoyed. I wish we all could experience that rather than the violence and brokenness that sometimes characterize homes and families. The Scripture has much to say about families, homes and relationships within the family unit. An example is Ephesians 5:15-6:4 which spells out God's design regarding the roles and responsibilities of family members.

But, in this blog, I want to talk about the truth pertaining to an eternal home. The Apostle Paul says, our citizenship (home) is in heaven. An old Gospel song says, "This world is not my home; I'm just a-passing through. My treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue; the angels beckon me from heaven's open door and, I can't feel at home in this world anymore." (written by Albert Brumley in 1919) In this hectic, humanistic, secular, and materialistic world we all live in, let's refocus!

Our eternal home needs be on our minds and in our hearts, governing our actions and priorities, so much so that we press on to it with alertness, purpose, energy and determination. Gaged by our attitudes, behavior and time commitments, are we treating this temporal and evil world as our home, or are we pressing on to that which is eternal? Let's be realistic about our relationship in Christ, since it is the source of our spiritual life here and our eternal home there! That home can and must be more real to us than this temporary home (world) we live in that seems to occupy so much of our time, energy, thoughts, actions, priorities and even our devotion. Is it time for a wake-up call? I believe it is!

Let's seriously consider getting and remaining at home in Jesus Christ in spite of the darkness looming up everywhere by considering this scripture: "But one thing I do; forgetting what is behind and straining forward to what is ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. . . . Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like His glorious body. . . . Therefore. . .stand firm thus in the Lord. . . ." (Philippians 3:13-14, 17-21 & 4:1)

Let's be home by dark! First, let's get home before THE DARKNESS OF NOT KNOWING JESUS! Paul, the Apostle says in those verses that there are enemies of the cross of Christ now living in this world. These people are enemies of Jesus and of His sacrificial death and we must keep our eyes off of them, not following after them or their example. If we don't, we'll not be home before dark; the spiritual darkness will literally surround us. It is hard to find our way home when we are engulfed in darkness. However, "The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them the light (The Messiah-Christ) has shined." (Isaiah 9:2) "For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. . . ." (Ephesians 5:8) "He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son. . . ." (Colossians 1:13) "For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness." (I Thessalonians 5:5)

". . .of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light." (I Peter 2:9) In Romans, chapter 5, we read that when we were sinners, enemies of God and without strength to save ourselves, Jesus died for us to take us out of spiritual darkness. So, let's repudiate the darkness and embrace the light! Let's get to know and love Jesus Christ!

Second, let's get home before THE DARKNESS OF A WORLDLY MIND-SET! Paul warns followers of Jesus that there are those who have set their mind on earthly (ungodly) things living in this world. (Colossians 3:19) Their values, goals, attractions and ambitions are of this ungodly world. They actually "glory in their shamefulness." Followers of Jesus are not be to attracted to or enticed by their ways. We are to re-set our mind, turn our heart to the desires of the Lord! We ARE, indeed, what our minds dwell on! "If then you have been raised with Christ (to new life), seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds (affections) to dwell on things that are above, not on things that are on earth." (Colossians 3:2) "Put to death therefore what is earthly in you. . . ." (Colossians 3:5) Jesus said, "Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth. . .but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven. . . ." (Matthew 6:19-21) So, let's reject the worldly mind-set and embrace the mind-set that pleases God!

Third, let's get home before THE DARKNESS OF ETERNAL DAMNATION! The Apostle Paul describes people whose "god is their belly" (Philippians 3:19) meaning their desires are sensual, fleshly, physical and ungodly. They demonstrate sinful appetites, a craving for and yielding to their sinful nature. They glory in the very things that they should truly be ashamed of. What is their destination? According to the Word of God (the Bible) "their end is destruction." This does NOT mean annihilation, obliteration, being completely destroyed, or ceasing to exist. It DOES mean eternal damnation, eternal residence in hell, everlasting separation from God and exclusion from heaven. Now, that is a scary reality! Yes, much to the chagrin of "progressive christianity", according to God's Word, hell is a real place, as real a place as heaven. Hell is an eternal prison of everlasting chains from which there is no hope or possibility of release. (Jude 6) It is a furnace of conscious torment where the fire never goes out. (Matthew 13:49-50) It is a place of excruciating misery where the "worm does not die." (Mark 9:47-48) Jesus said, hell is a place of "outer darkness where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." (Matthew 8:12) Jesus also said, hell is a place of "eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels." (Matthew 25:41) Hell will be occupied by the devil and his angels and by all those who have rejected the Son of God, Jesus, as Savior and Lord and refused His salvation. So utterly sad! So, let's refuse hell, despise the devil and flee eternal damnation and embrace eternal life in heaven, knowing Jesus who is the "Way, the Truth and the Life."!

"Our citizenship (home) is in heaven. . . ." (Philippians 3:20), so let us "stand firm (steadfast, unmovable) in the Lord." (Philippians 4:1) Place your faith in Jesus, confessing Him as Savior and Lord, and "Be Home By Dark"!

In the Father's home (heaven), there is Love, Warmth of Grace, Mercy, Lovingkindness, Peace, Security, Joy, Hope, Assurance and Confidence! Best of all, the actual PRESENCE OF JESUS AND THE FATHER is there!