“Welcome Home”

I remember hearing the story of a missionary returning to the United States after spending a lifetime serving the poor and preaching the gospel in a foreign land. As he was getting ready to exit the plane he notices a huge crowd gathered. “Oh my goodness, they are welcoming me home… I’m overwhelmed… they recognize the significance of my life of love and service”. But at the next  moment he realized the crowd was not welcoming him, but welcoming a rock band home from a tour. Feeling deflated that he wasn’t being welcomed home, he heard the Lord respond to him…”you’re not home yet… your welcome is still being prepared.” 

I was reading about a number of famous people who died on the same day and how often one would be relegated to the “back page”. Mother Teresa died on Aug. 31, 1997, the eve of Princess Dianna’s funeral; the world mourning the glamorous Princess Di hardly noticed Mother Teresa’s passing. C.S. Lewis died on Nov. 22, 1963 the same day that JFK was assassinated. I don’t remember one word about C.S. Lewis’s death. On July 4, 1826 John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died, but their deaths were somewhat overlooked by the 50^th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. 

I think it’s pretty important to remember that the significance of our life will not be determined by the headlines in the New York Times, or the hits on Social Media. The significance of our life and our welcoming home celebration will be determined by the Lord God Almighty. In truth the least famous on earth may be the most famous entering heaven. Let’s make sure we keep playing to the right audience… not the applause of the world, but the acclaim of our Lord. 

C.S. Lewis’s last published words were in an article entitles “We have No Right To Happiness”. It was published in the Saturday Evening Post a few days after his death.(12-21-63)  He reminded us:  

• “The world does absolutely need all the love it can get right now. Thus has it been since the first humans said “no” to God and “yes” to their desires. That is why Jesus came as a babe, died as Savior, and was resurrected as Lord – to show us the only Love that can change life. My own joy, freedom, and integrity are real and significant only insofar as they flow out of Christ’s presence and strength in my life. We only live once on this earth; in some ways, this absolutely is a dress rehearsal for the life to come – which doesn’t mean we are allowed to carelessly muddle things or intentionally toss it all off as inconsequential or meaningless. The world needs to embrace the Incarnate Lord who not only lived  his truth but was Truth, and who voluntarily offered himself as the only sacrifice that could bring us forgiveness, hope, and life. Do not be seduced by sweet words that promise life and happiness but in the end deliver emptiness and despair. We have no right to happiness – or anything else, for that matter – and yet God offers us his love and hope anyway. Grab them – and only them – and then settle in for a life that only He can provide.” 

What a great way to end a great life on this earth … instructing us to put our trust in Almighty God. Lewis and Mother Teresa’s may have been back page news in the earthly newspapers on the days of their death, but I believe they were on the Front Page in the “Heavenly Gazette” with Huge Headlines….. “WELL DONE GOOD & FAITHFUL SERVANTS … WELCOME HOME.”