Billy Graham tells the story of a widow and her son who lived in a miserable attic. Years earlier, she had married against her parent’s wishes and had gone with her husband to live in a foreign land. He proved to be irresponsible and unfaithful, and after a few years he died without having made any provision for her and the child. It was with the great difficulty that she managed to scrape together the bare necessities of life.
The happiest times in the young child’s life were those when the mother took him in her arms and told him about her father’s house in the old country. She told him of the grassy lawn, the noble trees, the wild flowers, the lovely pictures, and the delicious meals. The child had never seen his grandfather’s home, but to him it was the most beautiful place in all the world. He longed for the time when he would be able to go there to live.
One day the mail carrier knocked at their attic door. The mother recognized the handwriting on the envelope he brought and with trembling fingers broke the seal. Enclosed was a check and a slip of paper with just two words: “Come home.”
Someday a similar experience will be shared by all who know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord. Someday a loving hand will be laid upon our shoulder and this brief message will be given: “Come home.” Even better, Jesus promised to personally escort us into our eternal home, “…I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (Jn. 14:3).
The above story reminds me of Jesus’ “Come home” invitation in Matthew 25:34. “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.’”
Whenever I read this verse my soul is filled with a renewed sense of God’s love and purpose for me. And three words of this invitation lead me into worshipful meditation. The first word is “Come!” Say it audibly to yourself. I hear King Jesus, the judge of the living and the dead, saying to you and me, “Come home!”
Have you ever paused to ponder what it means for you to anticipate hearing Jesus inviting you to come home with him to the Father’s house. Imagine, after years of striving to be Christ-like in all your relationship with others, of serving and helping those in need, many times with little thanks or commendation, imagine coming to life’s end and hearing Jesus’ glorious invitation, “Come! Come home to the Father’s house.”
But there is more. “Come, you who are blessed by my Father.” The second word is “blessed.” I hear Jesus saying that the favor of God rests on me, because of what Jesus has done for me in his death and resurrection. The empty cross and the empty tomb loudly shout that we are blessed beyond description or imagination. Oh, what amazing grace!
Yes, you and I are blessed in so many wonderful, often taken for granted, ways. But most wonderfully “blessed” we are in the relationship we enjoy with God because of all that he has done for us through Jesus. Because of Jesus’ we are now redeemed, adopted, and loved as children in God’s family.
But there is yet even more. Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance.” This third word, “inheritance” reminds me of God’s gracious and glorious goodness toward me and you. We inherit, not a gold watch, generous retirement funds, or the family farm/business. Rather, we inherit the world, “the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.”
On that glorious home-going day, we will join with all of heaven in singing the eternal song: “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever.”(Revelation 11:15). Wow! This makes Jesus’ invitation to “Come” even more majestic and awesome.
The apostle Paul confirmed this truth in his letter to the Roman Christians. “Now if we are children, then we are heirs – heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:17). We are so blessed by God! Let us never take it for granted. AMEN!
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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – September 21, 2022
Ray M. Geigley
Healing Rays of Righteousness 
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