Home Sweet Home

“For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand.  I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.”  Psalm 84:10

We’ve been hearing a lot about home over the last few months due to the pandemic and the urgent request by authorities for us to stay home to avoid catching or spreading the COVID-19 virus.  Nearly every television commercial was revised to incorporate this “new normal” in the ads of the manufacturers and producers of all the products that we purchase.  While many folks lost their jobs, and some are still unemployed, I would imagine that the advertising and marketing folks who make these commercials are doing quite well financially.

What caught my attention about these new ads was the emphasis on the importance of being with family.  Watching these commercials, I got the impression that before the pandemic hit, the family unit was not as intact as it should be.  It is almost as if this is some new thing, that is, hanging out with your own family.  I know that is what folks used to do.  I am also aware that families have gotten away from traditional family activities and spending time together.  From what I have observed over the years, families don’t share mealtimes like they used to and when they do, it is not so much a home cooked meal as it is take out.  Or like the joke goes, “It’s time for supper.  Kids, go get in the car!”  The members of families have their separate activities, which is fine, but sometimes sports, clubs, and other things can keep families so busy, especially the children, that there is no real time for families.  The pandemic has been a benefit to help families get to know each other better, but then, of course, too much togetherness can also cause problems.  Perhaps problems ensue because folks have been so used to doing their own individual thing, that they resent giving up their personal time.  The statistics tells us that the divorce rate has gone up since COVID-19 took over our lives.  Folks just have to learn how to be patient and understanding and know that family comes before work, school, recreation, etc.  Your family won’t always be together.

When I think of “Home Sweet Home”, I naturally think about my home and my family, but I also think about my church home and my eternal home.  The Psalmist who wrote Psalm 84 was grateful for his home in God’s kingdom.  He wrote that spending one day in God’s home was better than a thousand days anywhere else.  He also wrote that he would rather be a doorkeeper in God’s house than to live in the tents of wickedness.  Who in their right mind would want to live in the tents of wickedness?  Apparently, taking note of all the evil going on these days, there are plenty of folks who don’t mind living as far away from the Lord as they can get, not caring how they live or who they hurt in their pursuit of selfish ambitions.  I have read on line where some of the anarchists have burned Bibles and made some very vulgar remarks about Jesus.  They have no fear of God.  They do not realize what they are giving up to live a life empty of peace, joy, and contentment.  I don’t understand them, but I serve the God of love, joy, peace, and comfort who gives meaning to my life.  An unrepentant sinner/unbeliever cannot know what it is like to be born again, until he or she is born again.

I sure wish all those who live in those tents of wickedness could get a dose of Holy Ghost conviction, and maybe some of them would listen, repent, and turn to Christ, but I am afraid that many will continue on the path to destruction and never know the One who died to save them from their sins.  Not only will they miss out on an eternal home in heaven, they will miss out on the best life they could have lived if they would only turn to Jesus and commit their lives to Him.  The Psalmist went on to write that “no good thing will God withhold from those who walk uprightly”.