“Time to come home”  by Pastor Daniel

Introduction
We hear this phrase all the time, “It is time to come home.”  It is especially meaningful in every phase of life.  We say that to our children = when they are out and playing and then there is that moment, “It is time to come home.”  We hear that probably from our spouse when we are working too hard and spending long hours in the office and a phone call came, “Honey, it is time to come home.” 

In our latest announcement in church, we said, “Welcome Home!”

Hebrews 10:24-25
“And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another” 

Not staying on our own
There was a story told of a pastor who visited one of his members who had not come to church for a while.  As they shared and talked together in the evening by a fireplace, the host finally told the pastor, “Well, pastor I am sure you noticed that I have not been to church a while and that is why you are here.  I have come to the conclusion that faith is a personal thing and therefore I rather keep to myself these days.  I hope you understand.”  To that the pastor took the tongs and drew a piece of burning coal from the fireplace.  Then he asked the host, “how long do you think this piece of coal will last?”  The host then said, “It will not last very long if you keep it away from that heap of burning coals.”  The pastor responded, “That is true of our faith too.  Keeping away will not last, and we need the others to help us keeping burning and glowing.”

That is precise the message of the writer to the Hebrews.  We can get so comfortable being away from people after a while but then it is “time to come home.”
Be encouraged and be an encouragement

Those verses go on to say that we come together for a reason.  We come so as to provoke one another to love and to good works. 

What greater encouragement besides reading the Word and knowing the promises of God is the experience of others in the light of scriptures.  To see the reality of spiritual truths acted out in today’s lives is the greatest encouragement.  That is what our gathering is all about.  In the early church, the disciples of Jesus Christ gathered in homes every day.  We tended to see that it was possible then as though people were simply too free.  Well, as we think of the vocation of the people, they were mostly farmers and farmers spent long hours at work.   Perhaps there were less entertainment and distraction.  That may be true but what is more important was that they were gathering for one reason – to provoke each other to love and to good works, to encourage one another in their faith because the times were hard.

We thank God for technology today and we can meet via zoom, but now that times are better, let us say, “It is time to come home.”  We are now able to meet physically by stages and we pray and hope that all this will soon be lifted up.  It is said that love begets love.  It is by means of loving another that we become stimulated to love in return. It is through the love of Christ towards our brothers and sisters, irrespective of their attitude towards us that love can be motivated within us.  Isn’t that the commandment of Christ, “Love one another and by this shall all men know you are my disciples.”?

The Day is drawing Near
“All the more, as you see the Day drawing near”.  That is a tone of urgency.  With all that is happening, and foreseeing even greater challenging time, we may not have the luxury to meet together one day.  While we still have, let us not neglect doing so.

May God bless you and let us say to one another, “It is time to come home!”


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