What makes a house feel like a home?
Looking about my little basement suite — which has been home now for only a month — I wondered how this little grey space could blossom into home so quickly. I thought it would take a few weeks at least, maybe even a couple of months, for me to walk into it and feel that sense of relief and contentment that one feels when they come home. Instead, in less than a month, my little basement suite truly feels, looks, and even smells the part of home.
I think the secret is familiarity. My books, blankets, accessories, pillows, keyboard, pictures and paintings…everything that adorns my space has a sense of familiarity, sentiment, and Amy-ness attached to it.
And it occurred to me as I pondered this: perhaps heaven will only feel like home to those who are familiar with its contents before they get there.
To behold the glory of God will only feel like coming home if I make a habit of gazing upon it here and now.
To see and savour the face of Jesus will feel natural if I am seeing and savouring Him every day on this side of eternity.
To sing the praises of my God will be as natural as breathing if praising Him is the pulse of my daily life, though as yet I do not see the object of my worship.
If I wait until I die to get familiar with the contents of heaven, will it really feel like home?
Perhaps the great wonder of living the Christian life is that eternity with God begins as soon as we start living life with Him today.
So I will sing like I will there
In the fearless light of glory
Where the darkness cannot find me
And Your face is all I see
Oh I will sing like a man
With no sickness in my body
Like no prison walls can hold me
I will sing like I am free
‘Cause I know You love me
I know You found me
I know You saved me
And Your grace will never fail me
And while I’m waiting
I’m not waiting
I know heaven lives in me
– Hillsong
songs of stippled stardust 