The Journey Home

God’s Mysterious Ways

Born into a military family, I planned to attend the Air Force Academy and then to serve my country. In high school, I did well. However, I injured my knee. I then realized that I would not pass the Academy’s physical exam. I enrolled in a college with a military officers training program. While there, I had knee surgery. After graduating, I volunteered for the Army but failed my physical. Apparently, God had a different plan for me. My father suggested I consider jobs with computers. An electronics company that hired me sold products to the federal government. I was finally serving my country. I later retired from a fulfilling career. When we face obstacles, the words of Jesus can inspire us to be hopeful. As the Lord says in Isaiah 41:10, “Fear not, for I am with you.”

Fragrance of Hope

Holidays hold special memories of my childhood. Memorial Day ranks high on my list. It always included parades, picnics, and the beginning of summer fun. For my family it also meant a day to visit the cemetery, remembering “that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13b). In Wisconsin, lilacs are one of the first early flowers to bloom in spring. It’s pure joy to stop and smell the fragrant blossoms. We gathered big bouquets and placed them in containers on the graves of our loved ones. It’s a common practice to celebrate life and death events with flowers. We can rejoice with those who have gone before us! Because of their faith and hope in our risen Savior, they are at peace in heaven, “what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Corinthians 2:9b).

Dwell in Hope

We almost always use the word “hope” to mean a desire or wish: “I hope this works.” But in the Bible, hope means something more. When the psalmist writes, “My hope is in you” (v. 39:7), hope means a sure, rock-solid confidence in God’s action on his behalf. We see “hope” again in Acts 2. On the first Christian Pentecost, Peter quotes Psalm 16: “my flesh also will dwell in hope” (emphasis added). Hope in God is not an occasional emotion. It’s a place we can “dwell.” We pitch our tent in that rock-solid confidence; we live there. In good times or bad, no matter our circumstances, we stake our claim on God’s work on our behalf. Jesus died to remove our sin. He rose to give us life. Hope is a sure thing.

There Is No Backup Plan

At one time, young women had hope chests — a place to keep household goods and that special embroidered tablecloth for when she would hopefully meet and marry Mr. Right. If marriage wasn’t part of her life’s journey, she had plenty of items to start her backup plan. The Christian “hope chest” is filled with the sure hope of God’s promises, equipping us for our journey: We who are baptized into His death will be raised with Him (Romans 3:4- 5), He will never leave you (Hebrews 13:5), He has plans to give you hope for the future (Jeremiah 29:11). No need for the backup plan. Forget that tablecloth because He prepares a table before you (Psalm 23:5).

The Journey Home

My wife and I fastened our seat belts for the 11-hour journey home from Minnesota to Missouri. Our hearts overflowed at the Baptism of three-day old Elizabeth, our eighth great-grandchild. Despite the challenges of lengthy travel at our age, we treasured the time with family around St. Peter’s reminder that God “has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.” Home safely and recovering physically, we thank our Lord for His faithfulness on our life’s journey as baptized children of God. We desire to share Jesus, crucified and risen, with others in need on the journey to His heavenly home!