A Home Prepared

I. Text: Hebrews 11:8-16

II. Jesus prepared a home for His people

A. John 14:1-6 – Many mansions (apostles)

B. 2 Corinthians 5:1-5 – We have a building

C. Imagine a home built by God who created the beauty of the ocean at sunset, the majesty of the great mountains and the Grand Canyon, the colors of fall and spring, and the calm of a meadow on a summer day.

D. This home will be perfect

E. We will have no discomfort or fear from evil for evil will be gone. Our home will not wear down nor go out of style. There will be no storms to destroy it. No enemies shall overthrow our home and take it from us.

F. This home should motivate us to seek it earnestly.

III. This home motivated other spiritual people, Hebrews 11:8-16

A. Abraham and Sarah sought the heavenly city

B. Abraham left his people and the comfort of a land he knew to follow God to a strange land that his descendants would possess. His greater journey was to the heavenly city, v.10.

C. Those who seek the heavenly city find no home here

D. They were assured of the reality of what God promised that they did not feel that their earthly home was the permanent home. They confessed that they were strangers, or foreigners, for they claimed a heavenly citizenship. They considered themselves pilgrims, travelers going to a holy place. Philippians 3:20: “For our citizenship is in heaven”

E. God is not ashamed to be called their God

F. These people had no shame about declaring their loyalty to God despite the persecution and isolation they would receive. God is proud to consider them His people and has prepared a place for them to live. Mark 8:36-38 – If we are ashamed of Christ, we will lose the home

G. Physical homes will motivate some people to make great sacrifices

H. A young couple saving for their first home put a picture of the house on their refrigerator to remind them to make the daily sacrifices to get into the house. When people know exactly the home they want, they will often make plans, budgets, and do any research and work that is necessary to purchase the house.

I. Our spiritual home should motivate us to make great sacrifices

J. We should get a picture of our spiritual home in our minds, Revelation 21 and 22. Our desire to live with God in heaven should motivate us to make plans, budgets (of time and money), and do any study and work that God commands us to do. Everybody wants to go to heaven, but not everyone is willing to make all the sacrifices necessary to enter.

IV. It is a home reserved for us

A. 1 Peter 1:3-9 – This reward is reserved for those who have been born again in Christ and are kept in God’s power

B. 2 Peter 1:5-15 – The child of God must grow and be faithful in order to gain that reward.

C. We are putting off a tent to gain a mansion.2 Corinthians 5:1-8 (already read) we put off the tent after we die. We must make our calling sure.

D. We must not draw back to destruction, Hebrews 10:32-39

V. It is a home waiting for us

A. Home for Thanksgiving

B. Loved ones whom we have not seen in a long time Those who are glad to see us and desire our company Food is prepared and a room is made ready to comfort us on our arrival

C. We are also journeying to a home where loved ones wait and preparations are made for our comfort after the toils and trials of life.

D. Hebrews 4 calls it a rest Matthew 11:28-30 – Jesus gives rest

E. Home from the battle

F. While on the battlefield in a distant land, the soldier has thoughts of home, the smell of home cooking and the grass and flowers around the house, the sight of loved ones engaged in simple tasks, and the comfort of sleeping in one’s own bed. In the middle of trial and horrific circumstances there is hope for a day when one returns home in peace after the fighting.“I’ll be home for Christmas” and other songs tell of the homeward thoughts of the soldier away from home. Then comes the day when the peace is announced. The soldiers go home and walk up the sidewalk with the family waiting. There will be no more fighting, the weapons are put away, the uniforms (or armor) are put away, and the soldier enjoys rest from the struggle. We are to be engaged in spiritual warfare with our enemy but we look forward to a time when the battle will be over and we can rest in our victorious country. However, we can’t quit before the battle is over nor leave the fighting to others (like the younger ones).

VI. Home is where we belong

A. Robert Frost: “Home is the place where, when you have to go there, they have to take you in.”

B. However, ideally those who live in our home desire our presence, as God does

C. Heaven is made for those who strive to go there, Luke 13:22-24

D. We were created as heavenly citizens; let us live like it.