“For if Joshua had given them rest, God would not have spoken later about another day. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from their works, just as God did from his. Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will perish by following their example of disobedience.” Hebrews 4:8-11
A few days ago I was recalling the media calling out for help for Haiti following the earthquake in 2010 and not believing how people could live without electricity, plumbing, strong houses and ample food. The attached photo taken recently is of an 8 inch hole in the ground at one of the Lutheran Schools in Haiti; it is the boys and girls bathroom. In 2001 when I was living in Haiti our office building had 3 bathrooms that worked perfectly after we bought the generator. The first day there was a seminary class in the morning at noon Joey came and advised me that there was a problem with the toilet in the seminary. It seemed that twenty five men had never seen a toilet and had used the toilet and didn’t understand the reason or how to flush the toilet. With a plunger, a bucket of water, a mop and a bottle of Pinesol, I solved the problem with the toilet and cleaned the floor. There was a short class on using the toilet immediately thereafter. People living in Haiti hear about Heaven and view it differently than you and I do. Jesus has prepared a mansion for them and it will be really good, because He is there. You and I, sad to say too often we look around at our mansion here on earth and can’t understand how anything could possibly be better…than here. But in Heaven…we will be with Jesus; this is not Heaven. I am closing today with the words from the hymn ‘I'm but a stranger here’ that were written by T. R. Taylor in 1836.
“I'm but a stranger here, Heav'n is my home; earth is a desert dread, Heav'n is my home.
Danger and sorrow stand round me on every hand; Heav'n is my fatherland, Heav'n is my home. What though the tempest rage, Heav'n is my home; short is my pilgrimage, Heav'n is my home; and time's wild wintry blast soon shall be overpast; I shall reach home at last, Heav'n is my home. There at my Savior's side, Heav'n is my home; I shall be glorified, Heav'n is my home; there are the good and blest, those I love most and best; and there I, too, shall rest, Heav'n is my home. Therefore I murmur not, Heav'n is my home; whate'er my earthly lot, Heav'n is my home; and I shall surely stand there at my Lord's right hand. Heav'n is my fatherland, Heav'n is my home.”
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you…Jay