We lived in an empty house for a few days last week. I had never done that before, as most people likely haven’t either. The house was bare of furniture. There were boxes packed full of treasured items. And necessities were scattered throughout the house. But there was no soft furniture. No bed. No couch. No chairs. All of it was loaded and shipped to our new home two states away. We slept on an air mattress for a few days. Our dog even roamed the house looking for a soft spot. One day she ventured downstairs to see if she could find a cushy spot to rest. But no. There were none to be found. Even my massage therapist asked me if I had been sitting on a hard surface. You bet I have.
Everything echoes in an empty house. Voices. Footsteps. Every sound echoes.
We let go of some furniture to new owners, because we downsized and not everything could make the trip. One friend told me that the pieces of our furniture in her home made her place feel more like home. Her humble abode felt better with a few gently used pieces from an old friend. That made my heart sing.
Oh. Now that some of my furniture and belongings have arrived at our new house, I’m unpacking boxes and arranging and rearranging furniture.
One of my final tasks before moving was cleaning out not one, but two fridges that hadn’t been cleaned in an obviously long time. Built up spills had hardened. Crusty spots were hidden behind drawers that hadn’t been removed for cleaning. Something green, possibly dried lettuce or kale, was lying under a shelf. Crumbs that had dropped from unknown food were found living safely in the unseen crevices and corners.
For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come. Hebrews 13:14
An empty house is not a home. It’s when the chosen furniture, artwork and cherished family heirlooms are put in place that the house becomes a home. As personal belongings are unboxed and placed in their new home, we see the love and feel of our last home in a new way. Sure. We’ll continue to buy new items over time and discard unneeded items, but we’ll work to fill the home with possessions that warm our hearts and tell our story. We’ll paint walls and hang curtains. We’ll cozy up the house with layers of texture to make it a comfortable resting place. We don’t want to live in a sterile environment. We want our home to reflect the nature of our love for each other and for God. When guests arrive at our new home, we want them to feel welcomed and loved. It doesn’t matter if the furniture matches or is new or is professionally arranged. What matters is that it feels like home.
The empty house gave me pause when I thought about living a Christian life. We repent and confess our sins in order to become children of God, but we can still live empty lives. If we don’t fill our newfound faith with solid biblical teaching and prayer and fellowship with other believers, we’re an empty version of a Christian. We will stagnate and not show maturity. How long will it be before we walk away from our newfound faith if our faith doesn’t have any substance?
Sure. A house without furniture is still a house. But it isn’t a home. It isn’t warm and inviting. It may be appealing and full of potential, but who would willing choose to stay for any length of time? No one.
A soul without Christ is still a soul, but it’s still searching for fulfillment. The searching soul won’t be satisfied until it finds the source of life. When the soul connects with its Creator, it has found its way home. But continual growth and development of the relationship with Christ is essential for a full Christian life. We can’t just visit with him occasionally and think we have a true relationship with him. We must become closer to him than we are to anyone or anything else in our lives. It’s only then that we truly understand that this world is not our final home. We are meant for our eternal dwelling with Christ.
This world we live in offers empty promises and unfulfilled expectations. It doesn’t feel like home. At least, not a home where we want to live forever. We aren’t content here. Oh sure. We may be happy and feel content for a season of life, but ultimately we’ll feel less fulfilled as time goes on. As we draw nearer to our final days, we begin to long for our final resting place. Our bodies and minds are less reliable, and we know that we will soon move on. We can know with confidence that our final home will be with Christ when we repent and confess our sins and live our lives according to God’s will.
Mercy for the Day 