I helped Karsten move this past weekend from his apartment in the suburbs to the Albany Park area in Chicago. He will be increasing his commute to work but gaining a roommate to share expenses. I rented a U-Haul truck to hold all his worldly possessions for the move. Kids his age seem to be excited about living in a big city.
I like to visit the city, but don’t think I would care to live there long term. I would have to parallel park every day. No thanks! The three months that Neal and I lived near the University of Chicago after his stem cell transplant I didn’t parallel park once. I would drive and drive until something else opened up. Our apartment had a small parking lot. If I didn’t get a spot in there I would watch to see when one opened up and run to get our car to park it there! It was fun to live there for a short time and experience the city life but I was glad to get back to Bridgman. ?
Driving home I thought about all the places I have lived over my life time. Because of my dad’s job I moved nine times growing up. I don’t remember the work of it but I am sure my parents do! After Neal and I were married we lived in married housing at The University of Michigan while he was in dental school. I remember the masses of cock roaches scattering as we opened the door to our apartment in married housing at night and flipped on the lights. Or sitting down to eat dinner and a cock roach decided he also wanted some of the dinner on my plate! It was also during those years that our twins were born. Many memories.
Where ever we live here on earth, that is not our permanent home. Those of us that are followers of Jesus are looking forward to a home yet to come (Hebrews 13:14). We are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return as our Savior. He will take our mortal bodies and change them into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power with which he will bring everything under his control (Phillippians 3:20-21). That is the exciting end of the Easter story. 
When sin entered the world through Adam and Eve, God had a plan to restore his people. He sent Jesus as a little baby to be born, live and die on the cross to pay the penalty for our sins. Many humans killed Jesus on the cross with evil intentions, but God intended it for good. Jesus’ death would save many lives for eternity. Jesus has delivered us from the penalty of sin. He delivers us now from the power of sin. One day he will deliver us from the presence of sin. Christ will come again to defeat Satan for good. God will set up a new heaven and new earth. His home will be among his people. He will wipe away every tear, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things will be gone forever. God will make everything new (Revelation 21). Hallelujah! No more moving vans, no parallel parking, no cock roaches, no stem cell transplants…
Are you ready for Christ’s return? Are you looking forward to it with enthusiasm like my grandkids were excited about looking for the Easter eggs?
My grankids were so excited to see what was inside the plastic eggs (candy of course). What is awaiting us in eternity will be far more exciting! There is no need to fear our time with Jesus forever if you have placed your faith in God. It’s as easy as ABC. Admit you have sinned, done wrong things. Believe that Jesus is who he says he is and will do what he says he will. And Commit your life to him, to live according to his ways.
You could say that Jesus lost the battle (on the cross) to win the war (against sin and death). “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the Almighty–the one who always was, who is, and who is still to come.” Revelation 4:8b
Thank you Lord that my citizenship is in heaven. This world is not my permanent home, I’m just passing through. I am looking forward to my home that is yet to come. How about you?
On the journey,
Trish