It was a scene right out of the past. What I mean by this is that, unlike back in the days of my childhood when it was a fairly common sight, it is rare these days to see a house being moved down the road.
I have no idea why that is. It might be that there are simply too many obstacles nowadays compared to the past. After all, power, cable television, and other such lines abound today. Or it could be that so many houses are built on slabs rather than on crawl spaces. Or it might be that it is simply easier and/or less expensive to build a house than to purchase and then move one today.
Nonetheless, this was exactly what happened recently here in our community. Someone valued a house so much that they undertook the arduous process of having it moved to a new location. Needless to say, as these pictures indicate, it is obvious that this was no simply undertaking.
I have no idea why that is. It might be that there are simply too many obstacles nowadays compared to the past. After all, power, cable television, and other such lines abound today. Or it could be that so many houses are built on slabs rather than on crawl spaces. Or it might be that it is simply easier and/or less expensive to build a house than to purchase and then move one today.
Nonetheless, this was exactly what happened recently here in our community. Someone valued a house so much that they undertook the arduous process of having it moved to a new location. Needless to say, as these pictures indicate, it is obvious that this was no simply undertaking.
Ironically, all of this happened at roughly the same time each of my three children and their respective spouses are in the process of purchasing their own first homes. And while my wife and I did not move a house, we have hauled many a piece of furniture in the last few weeks as we have worked to help each of them in turn set up housekeeping.
All of this has gotten me to doing some thinking. As a minister of the gospel, counting part time positions while in college and seminary, I have served eight churches in some capacity over a 35 year career. Of these, three have been in the position of Senior Pastor. Moreover, although we have been in our current home for fourteen years, if one counts the early years, my wife and I have moved a total of 12 times, and have lived in 13 different apartment and/or homes.
For this reason, I know that my children, whose generation is far more mobile than my own, will likely call many places home as well over their lifetimes. And also for this reason, I have learned not to get too attached to a particular house or dwelling place. All of which leads me to my point.
It was almost 80 years ago (1937 to be exact) when Albert E. Brumley composed the music and lyrics to the following well-loved hymn:
This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through.
My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
Oh lord you know, I have no friend like you.
If Heaven's not my home, then lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
I have a loving mother just over in glory land.
And I don't expect to stop until I shake her hand.
She's waiting now for me in Heaven's open door.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
Oh lord you know, I have no friend like you.
If Heaven's not my home, then lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
Just over in glory land, we'll live eternally.
The saints on every hand are shouting victory.
Their songs of sweetest praise drift back from Heaven's shore.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
Oh lord, you know, I have no friend like you.
If Heaven's not my home, then lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
These words capture beautifully the spirit of one who has learned the fleeting quality of all that this world has to offer. In so doing, they also remind us not to become too enamored with temporal places and things.
The eleventh chapter of the New Testament Book of Hebrews recounts the lives of men like Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham and then admonishes us:
13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Of Abraham specifically, we are told:
8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
For my part, I understand what motivated these Old Testament saints. Just as I do what motivated Albert Brumley. And I long for that day when I, like they, will dwell in a house prepared for me by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
And what He promised me is also available for you, my friend; for He made the following pledge on the night before He gave His life in order that we might live with Him forever:
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
There it is, my friend: God’s offer of a new and lasting home in Heaven for all who trust His Son. I hope you will make plans to dwell there someday. Today would be a good day to do just that; for one never knows when moving day will unfold.
LYRICS SOURCE: http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/HHOF1980/311.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/.
All of this has gotten me to doing some thinking. As a minister of the gospel, counting part time positions while in college and seminary, I have served eight churches in some capacity over a 35 year career. Of these, three have been in the position of Senior Pastor. Moreover, although we have been in our current home for fourteen years, if one counts the early years, my wife and I have moved a total of 12 times, and have lived in 13 different apartment and/or homes.
For this reason, I know that my children, whose generation is far more mobile than my own, will likely call many places home as well over their lifetimes. And also for this reason, I have learned not to get too attached to a particular house or dwelling place. All of which leads me to my point.
It was almost 80 years ago (1937 to be exact) when Albert E. Brumley composed the music and lyrics to the following well-loved hymn:
This world is not my home, I'm just a passing through.
My treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue.
The angels beckon me from heaven's open door.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
Oh lord you know, I have no friend like you.
If Heaven's not my home, then lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
I have a loving mother just over in glory land.
And I don't expect to stop until I shake her hand.
She's waiting now for me in Heaven's open door.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
Oh lord you know, I have no friend like you.
If Heaven's not my home, then lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
Just over in glory land, we'll live eternally.
The saints on every hand are shouting victory.
Their songs of sweetest praise drift back from Heaven's shore.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
Oh lord, you know, I have no friend like you.
If Heaven's not my home, then lord what will I do?
The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door.
And I can't feel at home in this world anymore.
These words capture beautifully the spirit of one who has learned the fleeting quality of all that this world has to offer. In so doing, they also remind us not to become too enamored with temporal places and things.
The eleventh chapter of the New Testament Book of Hebrews recounts the lives of men like Abel, Enoch, Noah, and Abraham and then admonishes us:
13All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. 14People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. 15If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. 16Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
Of Abraham specifically, we are told:
8By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. 9By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. 10For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
For my part, I understand what motivated these Old Testament saints. Just as I do what motivated Albert Brumley. And I long for that day when I, like they, will dwell in a house prepared for me by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
And what He promised me is also available for you, my friend; for He made the following pledge on the night before He gave His life in order that we might live with Him forever:
1“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. 2My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.”
5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”
6Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
There it is, my friend: God’s offer of a new and lasting home in Heaven for all who trust His Son. I hope you will make plans to dwell there someday. Today would be a good day to do just that; for one never knows when moving day will unfold.
LYRICS SOURCE: http://www.hymnary.org/hymn/HHOF1980/311.
SCRIPTURE SOURCE: http://biblehub.com/.