Communion Message
You're Not Home Yet
October 5, 2003
Pastor Leighton Sheley

Our pastor's message today is on the second coming. I remembered a story that I had read about a missionary doctor who had spent 40 years of his life as a missionary doctor in the villages of Africa. At last he decided to retire and he wired ahead that he would be returning by ship on a given date at a time. As he was crossing the Atlantic, his mind reflected back on the many people that he had helped in the jungles of Africa, and his mind raced ahead to the grand homecoming he knew must be awaiting him in America because he hadn't been home in 40 years.

As the ship pulled into port the old man's heart began to swell with pride as he saw the homecoming that had been prepared. A great crowd of people had gathered and there was a huge banner saying 'Welcome Home', and as the man stepped off the ship onto the dock and awaited a great ovation, his heart sank. Suddenly he realized the people had not gathered to pay tribute to him, but rather to a movie star that was aboard the same ship.

He waited in anguish with his heart breaking and no one had come to welcome him home. As the crowd disbursed the old man was left waiting alone. Tilting his head heavenward he spoke these words, God, after all of these years giving of my life to my fellow man, was it too much to ask that one person, just one person, would be here to welcome me home? And in the quietness of his heart he seemed to hear the voice of God whisper to him, you're not home yet -- You're not home yet.

We live so much of our life in this world, and we give so much of our attention to this world, that very often we are distracted from the fact that this world is not our home; that we are just passing through.

Jesus gave instructions that we should lay up our treasures in heaven where they would not be destroyed or corrupted, not here on the earth where everything eventually will be lost. Jesus said if we would give up possessions and family for Him, He would multiply that a hundred fold in heaven and we would have eternal life.

It's very challenging, I think, for us who live in America, and particularly for us who live on this beautiful peninsula, because we can be distracted by the allurements of this world. Someone passed me an article indicating that our county is the second county in the nation in terms of property values. Why is that? It's because it's so popular. And why is it so popular? Because it's so beautiful. And the beauty of the environment that we have here and across America can be a distraction to us, because as beautiful as it is, or can be, it is not nearly as beautiful as the place that is being prepared for us.

Hebrews Chapter 11 is called the faith chapter, and it speaks in brevity and summarizes the life of so many of the Old Testament saints. One of the saints that it references, not once but more than once, is that of Abraham. It says by faith Abraham when he was called to go to a place he would later received as an inheritance, obeyed and went even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign land. He lived in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise, for he was looking forward to the city with foundations whose architect and builder is God. He was sitting in the Promised Land, but he was doing so in tents because he was looking to inhabit the city that is prepared by the hand God.

It says, By faith Abraham, even though he was past age--and Sarah herself was barren--was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.

All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. If anyone asks you if there are aliens on earth, you can say the Bible says so. I am one of them.

And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country--a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. Them who by faith are looking forward to the city prepared, architect and builder is God.

The Scriptures say at times like this we should examine our self, and I want to invite you, if you are physically able, to join with me now as we kneel in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

So often we are distracted by the busyness and the allurements of this world that we're passing through. Forgive us for our sin Lord. Your word says if we confess our sin, You are faithful and just and will forgive us our sin and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Forgive us and cleanse us this day we pray, in Jesus' name. Let's partake of the bread and also the cup. Thank you Lord for Your promises, in Jesus' name we pray, and all God's people said...amen.