The Home of the Redeemed

Man has a great need for rest. The body will die without the proper rest in sleep; the mind will crack without proper relaxation; the spirit is forever dead until it comes to rest in God. In these days of restlessness and hurry it is very necessary that the Christian know where his resting place is, and that he flee there for quiet, rest, refreshment, and strength for his daily tasks.

The marvelous thing about our rest in God is that it accompanies us, though it is possible for the mind and heart to go forth from it, dwelling in the weaknesses of the resources of self, even when the strength of God gives us continuing life. The Psalmist had learned the lesson when he wrote, "He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty" (Ps. 91:1).

The secret place of the most High is the home of the redeemed. It is with us at all times if we will only enter its portals, refresh ourselves at its stream, rest ourselves in its shade, and feed at its table.

The difficulty with the human heart is that it is by nature a wanderer, and must learn the lesson of dwelling. Many years ago Blackstone, the great English jurist, was called upon to define "home." A British nobleman had died. He had inherited titles and castles from both English and Scottish forebears, but had lived most of his life abroad. If he were adjudged a Scot, his estate would be administered under Scottish law, but if English, under English law. Where was his home? The great interpreter of law was asked for a definition of "home." Blackstone wrote, "Home is that place from which when a man has departed, he is a wanderer until he has returned."

There is without doubt a spiritual application of this definition. Our home is in God. Augustine said, "0 God, Thou hast formed us for Thyself, and our souls can know no rest until they rest in Thee." The tragedy of our Christian lives is that we so frequently live outside of the home that is God, the abiding place that we can enter at any moment. All of the problems of Christian life arise from the fact that men step over the threshold of God's presence and go out into a wandering journey in the lands of self. But if we abide. . . there lies our rest in Christ, our power in prayer, our strength to overcome. All is in Him.

1. How do we meet in the middle between this concept that this world is not our home and that we are responsible to take care of this world?
2. How does this play out in our day to day?
3. Should we ever feel comfortable here on earth if this is not our home?