by Tom Wacaster
Home! There is
something about that word. Take those four letters and attempt to form
all the English words possible and I think I can safely say that this word –
“home” – is all you will get. I did not take Webster’s Dictionary and
search it out, but I think a little effort on the part of any individual will
prove it true! Those fortunate enough to have been raised in a
God-fearing family understand the value of that kind of home.
Keep in mind there is a difference between a house and a home! One author
captured the essence of what we say:
Home is where the heart
is,
In dwellings great or
small;
And there is many a
stately mansion
That isn’t a home at all;
And a cottage lighted
with love light
Is the dearest home of
all.
Ask your neighbor where
“home” is and he will likely recall the days of his childhood when life was a
little slower, peace was the order of the day, and safety and protection were
taken for granted. Whisper the word “home,” and see if that does not
conjure up warm feeling within your own breast.
In 1961 the late Brook Benton released his
version of “The Ballad of the Boll Weevil.” The first stanza and chorus
went like this:
Well, the boll weevil is a little
black bug
Come from Mexico they say
Well he come all the way to Texas
He was lookin for a place to stay
Just lookin' for a home,
He was lookin' for a home
He was lookin' for a home,
Lookin' for a home.
He was lookin' for a home,
Well, lookin' for a home.
Since
accepting the work at Handley I must admit I feel much like that boll weevil.
Temporary quarters in a two bed-room apartment are not quite like having your
own house. We knew from the time we signed the lease on the
apartment that we would eventually find a more permanent place to live; and so
the “search” began. Hopefully the search will end soon, and we can
set about making arrangements to make the move into more permanent quarters.
Having been through this process a number of times over the last 40 years, I
continue to be impressed with the similarity of searching and securing a
physical “house” with that of searching and securing that eternal mansion that
awaits the faithful. Let me explain.
First,
moving from one location to another impresses upon one’s mind the temporary
nature of material things. I must admit that God has richly blessed us
with comfortable houses in which to live during our 42 years of marriage.
Some of those houses have been extremely small (ask our son whose bedroom once
consisted of an enclosed back porch where he shared his room with the washer
and dryer, and wall to wall carpet was a “Welcome” mat. He often said
that flies had to file a flight plan to come into his bedroom).
Some of those houses in which we have lived would be considered a “mansion” by
those living in other countries. But all of those houses have one
thing in common: they were only temporary dwellings which the Wacaster family
occupied on their sojourn through life. Each and every one of them were
subject to fire, termites, and deterioration.
Second, the
only “house” that can bring true peace and happiness is the “mansion” that
Jesus has promised the faithful. Notice that I did not say “home”!
Peace and happiness is abundant in a home where
God and Christ are more than occasional guests. But a brick mansion without God
is nothing more than that – a brick house!
Third, it
takes a diligent effort to search out and secure that heavenly home promised to
the children of God. Like the boll weevil we must be about “lookin’ for a
home.” Our Lord promised that if we will “seek…ye shall fine” (Matt.
7:7a). This is not to be a casual investigation, but a diligent effort
put forth so as to acquire the desired end.
Right now we
are “searching” for a house in which to live, with the full expectation that
God will provide. But more importantly, it is our aim to continue to seek
that heavenly home, “which hath the foundations, whose builder and maker is
God” (Heb. 11:10). When our Lord returns to gather all the faithful and
take them to heaven, the “mansion” promised will become our eternal “home,” and
never again will we be in search of a home, for faith will become sight, and
hope will become a reality! Won’t that be a great day?