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Volume. XXXIII, No. 4 A Heavenly Place, our Everlasting Home “But now they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city” Hebrews 11:16 Name is a word or set of words by which a person or animal or thing is known, addressed, or referred to. Therefore, a name is a very important and essential part of providing individual identification. The majority of human beings in this world have had their names since they were in their mother’s womb. Have you ever thought if the people in our society did not have their own names, what would be happening? Our society would be in a state of chaos, confusion, disunity and turmoil. Exodus 18:3-4 tells us about Moses who had two sons; of which the name of the one was Gershom; for he said, I have been an alien in a strange land. And the name of the other was Eliezer, for the God of my Father, said he, was mine help, and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh. Every time that Moses saw, heard and called the name of his two sons, it would remind him of two things in his heart, he was an alien and lived in a strange land. However, God had helped him along his journey especially delivering him from Pharaoh’s sword. Therefore, both of his sons’ names are a good motto of his life. In fact, these two things also have a big impact in our daily lives. We are reminded that we are only strangers who live in the world temporarily as guests or visitors in different countries. Everything that we have including our lives is temporal and not everlasting. Soon we will have to leave this world with emptied hands. Everything is vanity according to Ecclesiastes 12:7-8 which says, “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it. Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity”. A quote from John Gill’s Exposition tells us that, “All things in the world are vain, all creatures are subject to vanity; man in every state, and in his best estate, is altogether vanity: this the wise man might with great confidence affirm, after he had shown that not only childhood and youth are vanity, but even old age; the infirmities, sorrows, and distresses of which he had just exposed, and observed that all issue in death, the last end of man, when his body returns to the earth, and his soul to God the giver of it”. Therefore, take heed and do not be enchanted or infatuated with the earthly materials as our eternal home is in heaven above. And God has gone to prepare a beautiful and holy city for us in heaven according to Hebrews 11:16. A quote from Mathew Henry says, “The description given of heaven: it is a city, a regular society, well established, well defended, and well supplied: it is a city that hath foundations, even the immutable purposes and almighty power of God, the infinite merits and meditation of the Lord Jesus Christ, the promises of an everlasting covenant, its own purity, and the perfection of its inhabitants: and it is a city whose builder and maker is God. He contrived the model; he accordingly made it, and he has laid open a new and living way into it, and prepared it for his people”. We should be careful and fearful in our walk in this temporal world. 1 Peter 1:17 tells us that, “And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear.” 1 John 2:16 says, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world”. We should flee away from our own lusts; and hold on to our good deeds until the Lord’s second return. 1 Peter 2:11, “Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul.” Moses said that the Lord helped him from the sword of Pharoah. Likewise, God will be able to deliver you and me, only trust and obey as well as leaving our path and burden to Him. He will support us to the end of our lives. Psalm 37:5 says, “Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” John 16:33 also reminds us, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheers; I have overcome the world”. God, our heavenly Father, has prepared a place for His children who are willing to call Him, “Abba Father”. We are now waiting for His second return and to be reunited with Him in the heavenly place and our eternal home. Are you ready for this special event? And have you secured your place to be with Him in the everlasting home in heaven? Dn Wittawat “Boong” Atijatuporn
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