The Heavenly Highway Home

A couple of years ago I purchased an inexpensive GPS for my car. I have to say that this has been a great investment. Finding a cryptic address and being able to navigate in an unfamiliar city, is great.

Recently, Sue and I traveled to the Carmel area in Northern California. As wonderful as the fantastic views of the coastal shoreline were, after a few days there was a longing in our hearts to go home and to sleep in our own familiar bed and eat normal, healthy, home prepared food.

The day we got ready to return to Riverside I went out to the car and turned on the GPS. Soon it had acquired the necessary GPS satellites and it was ready to plot a course. I clicked through the menus and came to the list of possible destinations. At the top of the list was that magic word “Home” and I selected and confirmed that entry. The GPS did its thing and in a few moments displayed a map and a route list for the way home.

I had not even moved the car a few feet yet but I could almost feel myself sitting in my familiar office chair and imagine how wonderful sleeping in my own bed would be that night. The 400 miles and 7+ hour drive was a mere formality. In one sense I was already enjoying being home. Along the way we got stuck in traffic on a secondary road near the I-5 freeway. The road was completely blocked for about 30 minutes due to a bad traffic accident. Eventually we made it home but even with the delay we were not concerned. Home might be delayed a bit but it was still our assured destination.

We have a Home in heaven. Once we have embraced Christ in faith and our course is set, we are bound for Home. There may be some things that come our way while we are on the trip but our arrival at the destination is assured. The events of the day are all just adventures because the destination is already a done deal. My up and down condition, on a given day, does not impact my Heavenly position. Our trip is a process and our destination is the prize. Circumstances no longer need be a heavy weight we must endure. We can relax in peace knowing that we are already at Home and at peace with God.

We have some friends that go through life living under the circumstances. Each change in the wind of circumstances is seen as a setback. These circumstances seemingly gone against them are relived and replayed many times. Friends they talk to must hear the circumstances replayed again and again and hear how only if this circumstance had been different their lives would be so much better. Living life by constantly looking in the rear view mirror is going to mean you miss an awful lot. I formerly lived that way and can speak from experience.

We must seek the adventure of the journey – the call of the Heavenly highway - and focus our hearts on growth, community and caring. We must embrace the possibility that God will reveal himself in our lives when we least expect it.

ISA 40:3-5 “Make the road straight and smooth, a highway fit for our God. Fill in the valleys, level off the hills, Smooth out the ruts, clear out the rocks. Then God's bright glory will shine and everyone will see it. Yes. Just as God has said."

Richard Lewis
Pathway Christian Church
Riverside, California