As I read the CNN news article ” Heaven over hospital: Parents honor dying child’s request”, I am reminded about this old rugged song and its meaning for us who put our trust in Jesus Christ.
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 ~ Jim Reeves
Firstly, I’ll like to give a brief summary of the news article that we’ll be looking at today.
An excerpt from the article reads:
“Julianna Snow is dying of an incurable disease. She’s stable at the moment, but any germ that comes her way, even just the common cold virus, could kill her. She’s told her parents that the next time this happens, she wants to die at home instead of going to the hospital for treatment.”
After this introduction, the article goes further to discuss the details of 5 year old Julianna’s health journey. It also looks into the lives of her parents as well as different opinions about Julianna’s decision and whether or not her parents made the right decision by asking her what she wanted.
In this few shared moments however, the questions I’d like for us to consider are these:
Have we become too comfortable here on earth that we forget that we are but pilgrims, waiting to go home to our Father? Has this foreign land captured our hearts so much so that we do not think about the true home that awaits us for eternity?
If I’m honest, I know that many times, I’ve become too comfortable here on earth that I forget that it’s not my final destination. I have found myself holding on and even fighting for earthly and material things as though they were my only inheritance.
Truth is, earth has become like home for me and I’m sure you can relate because it shows in the way we live our lives here on earth.
Let’s pause a minute to look at some people in the Bible and their desire for “HOME” .
Hebrews 11:13-14 VOICE BIBLE
13 All these I have mentioned died in faith without receiving the full promises, although they saw the fulfillment as though from a distance. These people accepted and confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on this earth
14 because people who speak like this make it plain that they are still seeking a homeland.
It was this same passion for “HOME” that must have driven Paul to declare:
Phillipians 1:21 VOICE BIBLE
For my life is about the Anointed and Him alone. And my death, when that comes, will mean great gain for me.
I don’t know about you but I want to live like this. Aware constantly that my real home is heaven and that my real inheritance is God Himself. I believe though, that this desire and longing for Heaven as our home can only be as a result of a transformed heart. Thankfully, Jesus welcomes us to Him for our hearts to be transformed and our minds renewed by His Holy Spirit and through His Word.
In other words, the purpose of this article is not just for us to make a decision to think more about heaven. It truly and simply is about surrender. Can we ask Jesus to heal our wandering hearts so that we long for “HOME”, a desire consuming our very being?
Especially when the conditions on earth are not favorable, I pray that God reminds us that Home is everything we long for. Most importantly because we will be with Jesus unhindered. This needs to infuse hope into our lives as we walk through paths uncharted and most times troubling. We sure need this hope as we journey “HOME”.
Before we leave this page though, my heart goes out to the Snow family as they walk through this very difficult time of their lives and I want you to join me as I pray for their beautiful family.
Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for your never ending love and presence that is right now with the Snow family. We thank you Jesus because it is you who brings healing and hope to the sick and hopeless. It is you who comforts us with your Holy spirit and we ask you today Lord to do for this family what only you can do for and through them to the glory of your wonderful name, Amen.
Thank you.
Yours In Love,
Oluwaremilekun Olaniyi.
Kindly leave a comment. I recommend these posts also;
How I Fell In Love With Death
#PSSeries: The Death Of A Loved One
ABOUT THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE 3
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Beautiful reminder! Thank you.
To God be the glory for ģreat things he hàs dome. Thanks for the reminder that we look for city not made by hands.