homeless

So many after this last year have expressed this ache of feeling homeless. This grief of loosing their place.

Fault lines erupted, quaked and have shaken us. Fault lines, in many ways, many of us didn’t know existed… or at least didn’t know they were that deep. Fault lines, however, many of us did know existed.

The foundation was already cracked, and now a chasm has opened up. This divide has divided so much… or was it already? And finding fault with others across the fault lines only has served to keep us further divided. Pushed further into making others feel homeless in our presence. Further into not being a presence that is a safe space for others.

But yet there is a real sense in which for the child of God, this world is not our home. We are aliens. We belong to another country. The feelings of homelessness and longing here and now are fitting.

All throughout Scripture and history, we see the elect exiles scattered (1 Peter 1:1). The beloved are thrust, sent, compelled, run off, and called throughout the world. Not promised comfort. Not promised to feel at home here on this earth.

And yet, God promises the meek and humble remnant who trust in His name, that He will bring us home (Zephaniah 3:12, 20).

Although God in His infinite care appoints when and were we live (Acts 17:26), our true citizenship as God’s children is in heaven (Philippians 3:20). We eagerly await the heavenly city. I know I will receive what has been promised, all that is right and good and true. But I also know that for now, here, in this world that is not my forever home, there are things that I’ll only welcome and see from a distance. Things that will not be fulfilled until I’m in my forever home. Things this broken (yet beautiful) world just cannot birth. (Hebrews 11)

And so I admit that I am a stranger and foreigner here on this earth.

To those who already knew this truth profoundly, I’m sorry for becoming too comfortable.

As we scatter and are scattered, there’s profound beauty and comfort when you hear others singing the same song. So if you feel homeless, be encouraged. Maybe your heart is closer to home than ever before. And know you are not alone.