Enjoying the Blessings of God With My Loved Ones, Wherever I Reside!

I’m having some mixed feelings these days. We have been in Alaska with family for about two and a half weeks. We spent quite a bit of time with our 4 children, and with our six grandchildren. We worshiped at St. John Lutheran Church in Palmer, spent time with friends, and with my Kiwanis Club. I have even enjoyed a number of ice-fishing trips. But, while in Alaska, we have been away from my family in Florida, from my 3 brothers and my sister, away from a cousin, and their children. We have been absent from First Lutheran Church in Gainesville where I am finishing my time as vacancy pastor, and away from our good friends there. While enjoying ice-fishing in Alaska, I did miss bass fishing in the warmer Florida climes. I also missed golf with good friends Gainesville. I am happy to be with family and friends, with church family, in each location. So, where is my home?

To add to the confusion, we still vote in Alaska, and also register our vehicles in the state My driver’s license and passport are list Palmer as my residence. However, we have been absent from Alaska long enough for my temporary employment that we missed the requirement for this year’s Permanent Fund Dividend, and for some other resident issues. Where is my home, my citizenship?

Yet, while I have now resided most of my life in Alaska, and secondly Florida, I should not forget that I have also lived, and worked, and gone to school in Massachusetts, in Texas, in Indiana, and Missouri, and Michigan. I have enjoyed my Lord’s blessings in all those places. Where IS my home?

In his letter to the church in Philippi Paul address these questions in a number of ways. From a Roman prison in Philippians 1 Paul questions his future, where he is to live. “ 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,” (Philippians 1:21-25) Paul wonders from his incarceration whether his immediate future is serving Jesus and His church in this world, or whether his home will soon be with Christ in eternity. Paul’s heart is in both places. Yet, he understands the need of others to know and believe the saving grace of Jesus. So, torn between two places of residence, Paul states that he will continue to serve God’s people for now.

Nevertheless, Paul also knows that there is one place which is his ultimate home. “20 But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21) Heaven is Paul’s real home.

Individual people prefer different places to live. Most of my friends in Alaska love the mountains, the streams, and the climate of our home state. Yet, in Florida, a lot of my family and friends wonder why anyone endures the cold of Alaska. Conversely, I recently heard an Alaskan speak of the heat in Florida as if it were a curse. Different people have different preferences. There are blessings, but also problems in all places.

Truthfully, life in this world is cursed, cursed because of sin. The rebellion of God’s children has caused separation from our Lord (Isaiah 59:2), broken relationships between people, put the creation in subjection. (Romans 8:20) Thankfully, by Jesus’ death for our sin and his rising from the grave God delivers us from the suffering and pain, from loss and death, from the curse of sin in this world. He delivers us so that we may “be with Christ, which is far better.”

While I have lived in various states with different climates, I have discovered that I am most at home with people I love and care about. Home is also with those who love and care about me. And, the one who loves me most is . . . the Son of God Himself, Jesus our Savior.

I will miss family and friends in Alaska. I anticipate my reunions with family and friends in Florida, for a few months. (We will return to Alaska in May.) But, my real home, my real citizenship is in heaven where I will “be with Christ, which is far better.”