Have you ever been homesick? It is a common malady. It happens to almost everyone at one time or another. It is that feeling you get when you've been away from home for a few days. Sometimes it starts the minute you leave home. It has different symptoms. Most of the time it is just a feeling of emptiness, a longing to see someone. But it can have real physical complications as well. Everything from headaches, to stomach cramps, to phantom aches and pains has been attributed to homesickness.
I once accompanied a young man to the emergency room to interpret for him. When we arrived, to my relief, the doctor spoke Spanish fairly well. He had done a couple of years in a clinic in Mexico. After checking the young man over thoroughly he began to ask questions about his family, friends, etc. Finally, he diagnosed the man with a serious, although not medically related disease. You guessed it - homesickness. The doctor went on to explain to both of us that home sickness can cause us to feel all sorts of pains that aren't really happening to us.
As I pondered homesickness this morning, I couldn't help but think of my church family. Apart from my flesh and blood family, I miss my church family the most when I am away. There have been times when I am away working or at home sick that I couldn't be in church. I could hardly wait until service was over to ask someone how church was. I wanted to know who was there, what was preached, if there were any visitors, who got baptized, etc. Why? Because this is my spiritual family and I was homesick.
I know there are people who make every excuse not to be in church. All I can say is that they are missing out. I love the feeling of being at home that I get in church. I have known the people in my church for many years. They have been there for us through sickness, death, loneliness, you name it. We have all seen each other at our highest and lowest points and we still love each other. Why? Because we are family and that is what families do.
I have friends and spiritual family all over the world. Perhaps you do as well. Some I will see again many times. Some I may never see again because of distance. The short time we spent together, however, forged a feeling of spiritual connectedness that does not go away. The good thing is that there will be a family reunion of all my brothers and sisters in the Lord one day. On that day, when the trumpet of the Lord sounds, we will all gather around our fathers throne, throw the crowns he has given us at his feet, and the the party will begin. Some people we will see that day we will have know for a lifetime. Some we will not have seen for may years. For some, it will be a first time meeting. But the good news is, it will never end. The reunion will go on for eternity. Just thinking about it makes me homesick for that day.
Don't you want to go? You can. Your reservation is already made. You just need to secure your place by obeying God's plan of salvation found in Acts chapter 2. The invitation is open. Don't miss out on the party of eternity. Everyone will be there, will you?
I once accompanied a young man to the emergency room to interpret for him. When we arrived, to my relief, the doctor spoke Spanish fairly well. He had done a couple of years in a clinic in Mexico. After checking the young man over thoroughly he began to ask questions about his family, friends, etc. Finally, he diagnosed the man with a serious, although not medically related disease. You guessed it - homesickness. The doctor went on to explain to both of us that home sickness can cause us to feel all sorts of pains that aren't really happening to us.
As I pondered homesickness this morning, I couldn't help but think of my church family. Apart from my flesh and blood family, I miss my church family the most when I am away. There have been times when I am away working or at home sick that I couldn't be in church. I could hardly wait until service was over to ask someone how church was. I wanted to know who was there, what was preached, if there were any visitors, who got baptized, etc. Why? Because this is my spiritual family and I was homesick.
I know there are people who make every excuse not to be in church. All I can say is that they are missing out. I love the feeling of being at home that I get in church. I have known the people in my church for many years. They have been there for us through sickness, death, loneliness, you name it. We have all seen each other at our highest and lowest points and we still love each other. Why? Because we are family and that is what families do.
I have friends and spiritual family all over the world. Perhaps you do as well. Some I will see again many times. Some I may never see again because of distance. The short time we spent together, however, forged a feeling of spiritual connectedness that does not go away. The good thing is that there will be a family reunion of all my brothers and sisters in the Lord one day. On that day, when the trumpet of the Lord sounds, we will all gather around our fathers throne, throw the crowns he has given us at his feet, and the the party will begin. Some people we will see that day we will have know for a lifetime. Some we will not have seen for may years. For some, it will be a first time meeting. But the good news is, it will never end. The reunion will go on for eternity. Just thinking about it makes me homesick for that day.
Don't you want to go? You can. Your reservation is already made. You just need to secure your place by obeying God's plan of salvation found in Acts chapter 2. The invitation is open. Don't miss out on the party of eternity. Everyone will be there, will you?