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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 11, 1893

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 19, No. 44.

HOME.

How SWEET is the word "home"! Its very mention touches a chord in every heart that has known aught of its endearments. Home is the center of pure affections—of all that is bright and joyous in this world.

The memories of home are sacred. The prayers of a devoted father, the early instructions of a Christian mother, are not in vain. Years may roll on without any evident result, but it is written, "Cast thy bread upon the waters, and thou shalt find it after many days."

And why is the old adage so true, "There is no place like home"? Because affection—love—is its center. Home does not consist merely in a place. Who would feel at home, even in his own house, if it were full of strangers? Would the well-known walls and furniture make up for the fond faces and loving hearts?

Death will sooner or later make a gap in the fireside circle. It may be the opening bud, the father's pride, the mother's joy, or it may be the head himself, causing each one to bow down in sorrow. Whoever it be, the circle is broken—one is gone—and the heart learns that perfect happiness is not to be found in an earthly home.

But there is a home which is perfect. It is brighter, and fairer, and lovelier than the brightest home on earth. You know where it is. Have you felt any desire to be there? Can you say, as you look up to God, "I have a home above?" Oh, this home is better than all! It is without sin or sorrow—all is joy and rejoicing there forever. And as with our earthly homes, so with our heavenly homes—it is not the place, but he who dwells there, that makes it happy. "Whom have I in heaven but Thee?" said the Psalmist. Heaven without Christ would not be heaven, and he who has Jesus now, knows heaven begun even on this earth. Do you think any child would feel happy if he were taken from his parents and placed among strangers, who cared not for him? Much less could a man who loves this world, and lives for it, feel happy if he were in heaven with those whose thoughts and feelings were quite different from his own. It is written in God's word that nothing that defileth can enter there. The soul must be renewed, the garments of sin taken off, every shred of self-righteousness cast away, and the sinner clothed with the spotless robe of righteousness prepared of God before he can be admitted into this holy home.

God works by his Holy Spirit in the heart of fallen man, convincing him of sin, of his utter ruin, of his need of a Saviour. Then he reveals to the broken-hearted sinner the love of God in sending his Son to die. He shows the completeness of his salvation, the sufficiency of Christ's blood to wash away every stain of sin; and whoever believes in Christ is made fit for God's house, and in his heart loves the joys of heaven.

"And there shall be no more curse; but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him; and they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads."—Selected.