You’ve probably heard this story. A missionary returned home after many difficult years. Also onboard was a famous person, whose arrival was celebrated with welcoming crowds, and bands, and balloons, and cheering. When the missionary disembarked into silence, with no one to greet him, he asked the Lord about it. The Lord said, “Son, you’re not home yet.”
And so we aren’t.
We are soldiers in an age long battle between good and evil. We are citizens of heaven, but are assigned to His service here on earth.
When we arrive at our true home, heaven, either through death or Christ’s coming again, then we are welcomed home.
I don’t know about the bands and balloons, but there will definitely be rejoicing.
Yet, death is an enemy, the last enemy to be defeated.
“The last enemy that will be abolished is death.” (1 Corinthians 15:26)
While death is an enemy, God says the death of His children is highly valued.
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones.” (Psalm 116:15)
We appropriately recoil from death, an enemy created by sin. And God will, one day, destroy death.
“Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.” (Revelation 20:14)
Seeing death as “precious,” highly valued, is only understandable from the point of view of heaven.
The death of God’s children means we have entered heaven.
God is glad to see us!
“Welcome home, Beloved.”
