Then I heard a loud voice from the throne:  Look! God’s dwelling is with humanity, 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 away every tear from their eyes. Death will no longer exist; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.
Revelation 21:3-4 HCSB

In Romans 8:18, Paul said, I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.

Jesus told His disciples in John 14:2, “In my Father’s house are many dwelling places, if not I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. If I go away to prepare a place for you, I will come back and receive you to Myself, so that where I am you may be also.”

Yesterday, I spoke with a dear friend who lost his mom just a couple weeks before my husband’s dad passed away. Tomorrow there will be empty chairs around the Christmas dinner table. There will be smiles that will be missed. And while we celebrate Jesus’ birth, there will be a tear in our eyes for those who have gone on before us.

My father-in-law led his family to attend church. He prayed daily. He had his own ministry with shut ins around town.  He did the will of His Father. He’s home for Christmas. My dad went home eight years ago. He left the suffering of this world to go to the place Jesus prepared for him. I thank God that he was saved just five years before he went home to be with his Lord and Savior. While my heart aches missing them, I try to remember that they are in a much better place, and I will see them again.

Many years ago, I attended SWAT training with a local sheriff’s department. Their chief deputy who has since been elected to sheriff spoke with the class and said something that stuck with me. He said when he went out on a SWAT roll, his family knew he was coming home. He said they knew he was either going to his permanent, heavenly home or coming home to them. He encouraged us to be sure that no matter what happened to us out on the streets to know we were going home.

When we lose loved ones who loved the Lord, we have the assurance they are in their heavenly home waiting for us. They have left the suffering of this world. They are in a place of glory. They are in a place where there are no more tears, crying, or pain. They are in a place where they are safe and secure with their Lord and Savior.

I don’t know about you, but I eagerly await going to my permanent home that Jesus has prepared for me. I can assure my loved ones when I leave this planet, I am headed to my permanent home. Someday I will be home for Christmas.

Can your loved ones have that same assurance? If you were to be called home today, would you be accepted into the place Jesus has prepared? Or would you be told, “Depart from Me, I never knew you, you worker of iniquity”? Matthew 7:23 tells us there are many who believe they will get into heaven but will not. Jesus told them that only the one who does the will of His Father will get into heaven.

While there will be empty spaces around the table and empty spots in our hearts this Christmas, I thank God for the fact that we have the confidence that we will see them again. I thank God for His salvation. I thank God that one day we will all celebrate Christmas with them again in our permanent, heavenly home. What a glorious day it will be when we are all home for Christmas.

None of us deserve what Christ did for us, but still God freely gave His Son to die for our sins. I pray you take full advantage of the gift of Jesus Christ. From the manger to the cross, Jesus was all about saving us from our sinful selves. I pray you will be all about Jesus. I pray you will trust in Him. I pray you will obey Him. I pray you will strive to bring Him glory and honor and praise in all you say and do.

Most importantly, I pray that when you leave this earth you will be home for Christmas. Know we are just visiting here. Don’t get too bogged down in all that is happening on this planet. Leave it to God. Just focus on Him and getting home for Christmas.

Have a very Merry Christmas!