I miss Home
Martha Olawale
“But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, 23 to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, 24 to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel.” Hebrews 12:22-24
It’s been years since I’ve been home. By home, I mean the place where I was born and raised, met Christ, where I met my husband, got married, learned to write, attended college, and got my first Christian writing job. I love this land I’ve called home for years now because God has been faithful. I am blessed with some of my life’s greatest treasures here, with whom I am enjoying God’s love in the most tangible ways. To stay on course toward our life’s purpose with as few distractions as possible, we’ve had to sacrifice going back for years.
Right now, I feel an overwhelming longing for home. To breathe the air and walk the streets. To hear people speak, see children's faces, and feel Lagos's energy. My heart longs for home, with everything that comes with it; the messes and blessings. I don’t have to know anyone to know everyone because it’s home.
This pull on my heart reminds me of David’s longing for the water of Bethlehem, despite the dangers surrounding his departure. He said in 2 Samuel 23:15, “Oh, if only I could have some water from that well by the gate in Bethlehem.” It wasn't that the water where he was would taste different from the water elsewhere, but it was something he associated with his home.
This sudden longing for a place I left years ago makes me think of Heaven. The human race is at odds with itself, as brothers fight brothers and people point fingers at one another. The problem is not the person you have made your enemy; it is how we have relegated our soul’s desire and closeness to God to the vagaries of uncertainty.
Unless we make God count in all we do, we won’t see humanity as He sees us, and when we don’t, we can’t enjoy the fullness of the joy He blessed us with. We have come a long way, but it’s vital that we always remember that being human trumps all differences, and that the journey leads back to a place where all our lives begin. The world is a pass-through; Heaven is home.
As we grow older, some things change within us, drawing our hearts back to the basics: our divine connection. Our life’s pursuits are encouraged by simpler things, and the familiarity of the beginning becomes more cherished at our core. Despite the fuss and the deliberate suppression of our souls’ longings, God is humanity's greatest hope, and our desire for His presence cannot be satisfied by the pleasures of this world. Psalm 42:1-2b says, “As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God. 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.”
As I grow older, I miss my earthly home, and as I continue to walk with God, I long for Heaven because my view of the Throne of grace becomes clearer and closer. My soul finds comfort in the Temple I have yet to see, and my heart finds joy in the company of countless angels I have yet to hear sing. The joy and peace that come from where the journey of life begins are birthrights for every human, and no matter how beautiful Earth is, it can’t compare to the glory of Heaven. I miss home!
