UNPACK this...For NBA FansSample

Returning Home 

During an NBA playoff series, winning on the road is difficult and teams look forward to the games switching locations. Teams don’t want to start on the road but prefer to get home-court advantage. In order for that to happen, they must compete hard in the regular season.

Throughout a 7 game series, each team gets an opportunity to go home and play in a more comfortable atmosphere where they feel at peace and can better relate to their surroundings. 

I don’t travel much, but I can still understand the peace and comfort that comes from returning home after a trip. When I’m far away from familiar surroundings, I can feel out of place and long to return to where I belong. 

From a much bigger perspective, followers of Jesus aren’t truly home until we join Him in heaven. We don’t quite fit into this temporary world filled with so much pain, evil, and struggles. Thankfully, because we’ve placed our faith in Jesus, we have the hope that our true home is waiting for us. 

The Bible says in Hebrews 13:14 (NLT), “For this world is not our permanent home; we are looking forward to a home yet to come.” 

Even when an NBA team struggles early in a series and gets down 0-2, at least they can rest in the reality of heading home for the next game. Today as we think about this crazy life on earth, let’s remember this is not all there is. Let’s hold onto the hope that we aren’t home yet. I’m Bryce Johnson and you can unpack that! 

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the place You’ve prepared for me in heaven. I pray for strength as I do Your work here on earth and wait for Jesus to take me home. Help me to be eternally focused and remember this world is not my home. Thank you for sending Jesus to provide a way to heaven. In His name, I pray, Amen.