Psalm 27:4 (Homecoming)
“One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple” (Psalm 27:4).
It is a unique experience when we journey home after moving away for a length of time. There is something nostalgic about seeing old landmarks and streets which bring back memories. No matter how much time has passed, we can identify with the familiarity of where we once lived and know we were a part of that community.
I can remember going off to college two hours from my hometown. Honestly, I was eager to move away because it was a rough area—economically challenged and crime prevalent. The auto industry had mostly pulled out long before and all that remained was a rugged, blue-collar community where people had to grind their way to make ends meet.
Though I have spent over half my life away from where it all began, a part of my heart never left. It has been impossible to forget where I came from because memories are forever engrained in my mind. Moreover, my behavior (for better or worse) reflects the environment in which I was raised. No matter if my memories were joyous or painful, they are still a part of who I am today.
However, what if home was not a past memory but a future hope in heaven? If we have no recollection of what eternity looks like, how can we seek after it with hope of its everlasting beauty and assurance of its glorious majesty? What makes us so convinced it is worth living for?
“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come” (Hebrews 13:14).
ONE THING HAVE I ASKED:
David’s language in Psalm 27:4 is definitive. Despite all the highs and lows he experienced throughout his life and the power and riches he possessed, he craved only one thing from the Lord. He did not exude a posture of entitlement as if he deserved anything. Rather, he prayed to the Lord and made a solemn petition to the One who gave him life.
It is a great reminder that we are not entitled to anything other than God’s wrath for our sins when judgment day comes. Obviously, eternity was at the forefront of David’s mind. He understood the challenges of living in a fallen world and lamented the choices he had made in life. Depravity consumed his thoughts and all he longed for was to escape the present and prepare his heart for the future.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows” (Psalm 23:5).
There are certainly many things we ask of the Lord on a daily basis. We pray for wisdom and discernment, knowledge and understanding. We ask Him to provide our basic survival needs and guard the health and safety of our families. Each day is filled with numerous requests we make which are good and righteous, but what makes David’s petition unique from ours?
Keep in mind, if we have accepted Jesus as our personal Lord and Savior, we are guaranteed to spend eternity in heaven when we die. Scripture affirms that absolute truth emphatically. However, we often take Christ’s gift of salvation for granted when our sights are consumed by things which are temporary, as opposed to that which is eternal.
David understood one thing crystal clear and it is a powerful reminder to us as well. Tomorrow in not guaranteed. We can be here today and gone the next, so what benefit is there to praying for anything other than the honor and privilege of spending eternity in heaven? That does not mean praying for temporary needs is wrong, but it cannot supersede our greatest prayer for eternal salvation.
ONE THING WILL I SEEK:
Think about the implications of seeking eternity every day of our lives rather than chasing after temporary things which monopolize our time and attention.
We can share the Gospel without fear of the enemy.
We can endure persecution when we boldly defend God’s Word.
We can consider trials with joy and submit to God’s sovereignty.
We can trust in the Lord when danger or calamity comes upon us.
We can love our enemies and pray for those who seek to harm us.
We can rejoice when loved ones pass away rather than mourn bitterly.
Being “kingdom-minded” has the power to radically change our behavior. No longer are we concerned about fear, doubt, or worry because our perspective shifts from what impacts us to what fulfills the Great Commission. It is a radical transformation which requires focus, intentionality, and determination to live out the Gospel of Jesus Christ each day of our lives.
“I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect” (Romans 12:1–2).
When we seek eternity throughout our lives, we align our personal will with the Father’s and submit to His sovereignty. We take every thought captive to honor Christ in our mind and work to serve others so that our hearts reflect the heart and character of Jesus.
We speak blessing instead of cursing and forgive freely when our neighbors sin against us. In everything we say and do, we proclaim the Good News of salvation through our words and actions in the hope that others see our good deeds and witness the love of Christ in action.
“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:14–16).
That does not mean everyone will appreciate the passion we demonstrate living out our faith. Nevertheless, we must obey our Father in heaven, regardless of the persecution we receive, because His Word demands we live contrary to cultural norms which contradict God’s law.
THE HOUSE OF THE LORD:
Heaven is truly our pearl of great price. No matter what this world has to offer, nothing compares to the glory which awaits those who repent of their sins and confess Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Reason being, this world is not our home, for we are citizens of a different nation under the mighty hand of God.
“For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come. Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God” (Hebrews 13:14–16).
Coming home to spend eternity with our Father in heaven is as good as it gets. No longer will we be required to endure pain and hardship. Sickness will be no more. Death will never come to pass again. Our broken bodies will be restored and a joyous celebration will ensue when we are reunited with loved ones who have gone ahead of us into glory.
“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
We will rejoice as never before when we reach our final destination and give thanks to the Lord for what He did on the cross to set us free. That is the beauty of our eternal homecoming (which David alluded to) when we enter the gates of heaven and hear our Father declare, “Well done, my good and faithful servant!”
“What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, and I look upon his face the one who saved me by his grace. When he takes me by the hand and leads me through the Promised Land, what a day, glorious day that will be.”
BOTTOM-LINE:
In the meantime, let us not lose sight that there is work to be done. Heaven awaits, but we cannot sit idle and not accomplish the work Jesus gave us before He ascended into heaven. For rest assured, we are without excuse if we do not love, serve, and speak truth as He would to a lost generation destined for hell.
“As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry” (2 Timothy 4:5).
As glorious as heaven will be, those who deny Christ and conform to relative truth will suffer the consequences of their unbelief. It is heart-wrenching to witness others reject the Gospel of salvation and declare Christianity as nothing more than a delusional myth. However, those who fail to repent of their sins and turn away from temptation will reap what they sow on judgment day.
God has given us free will to choose which path we will take in life. Therefore, we have all the more reason to not only reconcile our hearts but call upon the Lord to break the pride of those who believe they can ultimately save themselves.
In the end, our job is to serve our Lord and Savior and do whatever it takes to speak truth in love to those who are destined for destruction. Some may listen. Others may not. Regardless, we are committed to return home one day confident that we have done everything in our power to defend, proclaim, and live out the Gospel of salvation to a lost and broken world.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7–8).
