Coming Home

We were coming home for R & R, and our military contract flight carried over 250 soldiers in desert camouflage uniforms for nearly 14 hours.  We left from Kuwait City International Airport and refueled in Shannon, Ireland.  Finally, our wait was over - we were ready to land at Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) International Airport.  As we were about to land, the DFW air traffic controllers came over our intercom and welcomed us back from the desert.

After we touched down and taxied for several minutes, and as we approached our gate, two DFW airport fire trucks were aligned on each side of the plane.  When we were about 100 meters away, they began spraying water into the air, forming a huge arch for the airplane to pass through – it was their way of welcoming us home.

Before long, we were getting off the plane and we received a lot of information about where to go next in the airport.  Soon we were in a long line waiting to pass through the U.S. Customs area, and then on into the main terminal where we would make our connecting flights to go see our loved ones.

After I passed through U.S. Customs, I was expecting to make my way to the American Airlines ticket counter to see about getting an earlier flight home.  When I walked around the corner, I was surprised to find dozens of people, old and young, cheering for us, shaking our hands, holding up colorful banners, and giving us all manner of goodies to eat and drink.  A smile rushed to my face and I found my heart swelling with pride and my eyes welling with tears.  We were finally home! Eight months passed since I last walked on American soil, and now that I was home, it felt wonderful!  The sky never looked more blue, the clouds (I hadn’t seen clouds in over three months) never looked more fluffy and white, the breeze on my face never felt more refreshing.

Eventually, I made my way to the ticket counter, and the airlines gladly worked with me to get me on a flight that would take me home seven hours earlier than I anticipated.  The flight to Vancouver, British Columbia seemed to take no time at all, and after passing through Canadian Customs, I was on my way to find the woman who loves me most in this world – my wife Wendy.  It had been nine months since I last saw her!  I walked out of the terminal, searched through the crowds of people, and there she was!  As she was getting ready to cross the street, our eyes met, and I quickly crossed over to meet her on the other side.  I wrapped my arms around her and we embraced for several minutes as I took it all in: the sweet fragrance of her hair, the softness of her skin, the warmth and tenderness of her hug.

All of this excitement and the euphoria of being so warmly welcomed (both by my wife and by the crowd in Dallas) made my mind rush ahead to another homecoming I will one day face.  I’m not sure exactly how it will happen, but the Bible gives us some clues.  For example, we are told that “to be absent from the body is to be at home with the Lord.” (2 Corinthians 5.8, NASB)  This suggests that the second I “eject from my earth suit” (that is, as soon as I die), my last breath on earth is followed by my first breath in Heaven.

The Bible also describes Heaven as being a place where sorrow and death are forever replaced with joy beyond our wildest imagination.  The Apostle John describes it this way: "Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them. They will be His people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away." (Revelation 21.3,4; NIV) 

Sometimes, I try to imagine what it will be like – I picture myself closing my eyes in death, and instantly opening them in Heaven.  That’s when I will be greeted by my Dad who left for Heaven this past November.  He will scoop me up in a big bear hug and say, “Joey!  (Dad always called me that) You won’t BELIEVE how wonderful it is here . . . come on . . . let me take you to meet Jesus!”  Think of the most beautiful place you’ve ever visited; think of the most exciting adventures you’ve ever been on; and think of the most intimate relationships you’ve ever shared.  Wrap all these together, increase them a hundred times in intensity, and you may get a small taste of what Heaven will be like.  Heaven awaits every person who turns to Jesus Christ in faith and receives His free gift of salvation and eternal life.

Meanwhile, God invites His people to be part of what He is doing here on planet earth.  And what is He doing? The Bible tells us that He is engaged in a rescue mission to free those imprisoned by the kingdom of darkness – He is rescuing those enslaved by the power of sin, and He offers them nothing less than absolute forgiveness and an abundant life!  While He does not promise a life of ease and luxury, He does promise them REAL life and freedom!  And amazingly, He offers those of us who follow Jesus the chance to join Him in that rescue mission. 

As I think back to the crowd that greeted us in Dallas, I am reminded of another crowd that cheers us on in this race we call life. This crowd also joined God in His rescue mission, and, having finished the race, they are now in Heaven cheering us on, urging us to keep our eyes fixed on what really matters, and to run the race in such a way that brings honor to God.

The writer of the book of Hebrews describes them like this: ”Do you see what this means--all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running--and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how He did it. Because He never lost sight of where He was headed--that exhilarating finish in and with God--He could put up with anything along the way: cross, shame, whatever. And now He's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility He plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!” (Hebrews 12.1-3, MSG) 

As far as our deployment to Iraq is concerned, we are almost home.  In around 13 weeks, we will be on our way back to the USA  - back to Fort Bragg, NC.  As we are welcomed back by our loved ones, let’s take some time to remember that there is an even better homecoming that awaits all of those who have chosen to follow Jesus Christ.  And after that homecoming, we will never again have to be separated from those we love!