Throughout the series we have been thinking through the idea of home. We can all recognize that home is more than a physical place, specific town, and isn’t necessarily tied to certain people even. But as we work through what “home” really is, we also are confronted with the reality that we try to create a home in temporary places, that ultimately do not satisfy or last.

The sermon this week centered on John 14. The opening verse says, “Let not your hearts be troubled”, and ends with the same refrain, “Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid”. My heart is so often troubled. I am consumed with the things of this world-juggling to do lists, managing finances, being intentional in friendships, being a good wife and mother, serving, going to appointments, working out, etc. Then I can read through my Facebook newsfeed and the brokenness of this world screams at me from the headlines; “Baby dies after 10 hours in a car”, “Riots in Charlottesville”, “North Korea prepares for missile launch “. And then I am exhausted. How can my heart not be troubled? As we deal with so much uncertainty in this life, what do we do with that? More often than not, we try to create safety, security, comfort, “home” in the temporary things of this world.

The text this week called us to look beyond our present reality. Our foundation is not the material or social comforts in this life, but instead we look ahead, to a new home Christ is preparing for us. Jesus has promised us eternity with him, which gives us tremendous hope. But, what is important for us to remember from John 14 is the promise of the Holy Spirit. We have this confidence that as we go through this life, even amidst trial and temptation, we are not alone. God has sent his Spirit to not only be a real presence in the world, but to dwell inside us. I love this quote by C.S. Lewis on the Holy Spirit:“It comes the very moment you wake up each morning. All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the very first job each morning consists of shoving them all back in, listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other larger, stronger, quieter, life come flowing in. And so on, all day. Standing back from your natural fussing and fretting; coming in out of the wind”. 

Isn’t that beautiful? Doesn’t that speak to the transforming work of the Spirit inside of us? Because God didn’t just send Jesus and then step back until He returns, we have a helper. God is inside of us, shaping and molding us. As he prepares a place for us he is also preparing us to be more like Him. We can take heart and rejoice in this work that is happening inside of us, but also in the lives of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We have a community of people who help to remind us that this life isn’t all there is. We cling to the hope of heaven, of dwelling with Christ, together. It is my prayer for this church, that we would be marked by the Spirit in our individual lives, but also as we gather each week. I pray that our hearts would not be troubled by the weight of this fallen world, but that we would look to a God who is making all things new. 

~ Bronwyn Siebert