There's No Place Like Home

And when you pray, do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” (Matthew 6:7-13 ESV).

Almost everyone is aware of the story of Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz. When we visited the National Museum of Natural History located within the complex of the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, DC, we were able to see the Ruby Slippers that sixteen year-old Judy Garland wore as Dorothy in the 1939 film classic. In the original book by L. Frank Baum, Dorothy’s magic slippers are silver; for the Technicolor movie, they were changed to ruby red to show up more vividly against the yellow-brick road. The ones in the Smithsonian are one of several pairs used during filming, these size-five shoes are well-worn, suggesting they were Garland’s primary pair for dancing scenes. The key to the importance of the shoes was that when she clicked the heels together and said “I want to go home” she would be instantly transported back to her home in Kansas. I have nothing against Kansas, but that’s not my home. My home is in heaven. When Jesus instructed the disciples in prayer, he emphasized the need to focus on that kingdom. For as long as God gives us breath, we can worship him, grow as believers, and impact his kingdom on earth. As we do so, we must remember that there are really two aspects to the kingdom of God. There is the kingdom here and now, and the fullness of God’s kingdom that will only come when Christ returns. John helps us understand that kingdom. He describes the wonder of this new heaven and earth, the end of pain, sorrow, and death, and the glory of the Holy City (cf. Revelation 21). As we follow Christ in this world, we do so never forgetting what is to come. The kingdom here and now, and the glory that awaits, motivate us to thank, praise, serve, follow, and depend upon our great God and King. As a follower of Jesus Christ and a member of his body, this is our encouragement. Worship him in the fellowship of the church. Strengthen and build up the body of Christ. Look outward in ministry, proclaiming and living out the good news of the gospel for the world to see. Let the Father’s will be done in your life until that glorious day when you see him face to face. Oh, by the way, you need not worry about getting any red slippers to click together. Jesus has already taken care of providing the way home. It is through Him. He is preparing it for each of us. When he is done, he will come and get us.