Yes, You Are Going Home

 Maria Taylor was a frail woman physically but stout spiritually. Her life as a missionary was not a life of ease. She endured much suffering in China alongside her husband Hudson trying to win people to Jesus. She had to bury three children in China. A grief so tremendous only God could help her bear it. 

She was often ill herself. Body weakened and confined to bed to recover. One morning Hudson heard her as he was preparing breakfast. What he could not see in the candlelight, but became clearly visible with the sunlight, was that his beloved life was dying. He knew she did not have long to live. 

He would long treasure the conversation that followed. He informed her she was dying. She didn't believe him at first. She felt no pain but only felt weary. He was a physician and could see her strength was fading. That is when he told her, "Yes, you are going home. You will soon be with Jesus." 

The joy of her soon departure to be with Jesus eclipsed the pain in his heart of losing her. She was concerned with leaving him alone to raise and care for their four remaining living children and all the responsibilities for the China Inland Mission that would fall on his shoulders. 

Her words to her husband speak to a depth of relationship with Jesus that was deeper than most. She told him, "You know, darling, that for ten years past there has not been a cloud between me and my Savior. I cannot be sorry to go to Him." 

There two suffering spouses unselfishly releasing the other into the hands of the King of Kings. A very difficult moment softened by the eternal promise of everlasting life with Jesus. Maria was going home. She was only 33. They had only been married 12 years. It seemed like such a waste. Such a young life. Yet, the Taylors knew that home was in heaven. Three of their children were already there waiting on their mother. Hudson knew one day he would follow after his work on earth was finished. 

I know this world is not my home. As long as God gives me life, I want to squeeze the most out of it for Him. To labor while I have a chance. That includes pointing others to salvation like I did with a group of students last night and do weekly at the detox center. That includes preaching and teaching while I have the chance. That also means hammering these keys to get words of hope, inspiration, and truth out to readers. 

When all that is over, I will go home. Not my boyhood home back in the piney woods of east Texas. Not where Brenda and I reside. Home is in heaven. One day I'll go home. Until that day, I want to take as many others with me as possible. What a day of rejoicing that will be when my Jesus I will see. He will lead me into a home I cannot see or imagine on this side. I Cor 2:9 

It will be sad if Brenda and I have to part with one another. We'd much prefer to be raptured off this planet together. Should one of us be called home before the other, I hope we endure that valley of the shadow of death without fear but with the joy of knowing the dying one will soon be home with Jesus. I hope we can face it bravely like Hudson and Maria did. The other will follow close behind soon enough. Therefore, we may grieve but not as people without hope. The dead in Christ will be raised first before the living are caught up with the Lord in the air. May we take comfort in that thought. I Thess 4:13-18.

Not everyone will get to heaven. That requires salvation in Jesus. Nobody gets to heaven without going through Jesus. John 14:6 That requires repentance of sin and trusting Jesus for the free gift of forgiveness. We cannot earn our way home. We must accept this free gift by faith. Eph 2:8-9 That is the only way to make it home to heaven. Maybe someone will read this today and experience that great salvation made available by Jesus' demonstrating love for us by dying to take our punishment. Romans 5:8 That is my hope and prayer.