Finding HomeНамуна

When God made Adam and Eve, He settled them in the Garden of Eden, a beautiful home, full of delectable fruit and green plants and a myriad of creatures. It was the perfect home because God Himself dwelt with Adam and Eve. When they disobeyed God, sin corrupted them and completely altered their relationship with God. Banished from the Garden, they became separated from Him.

The fall was mankind’s moment of displacement. As descendants of the first couple, a sense of homelessness plagues us all. We find ourselves constantly searching for Eden. We look for Eden in physical homes, in relationships, in our professions and in our possessions, among other things. But nothing satisfies our longing for home because we’re looking for home in all the wrong places.

What’s the answer to our problem of homelessness?

Our craving for home can only be satisfied when we’re in an intimate relationship with God, completely in love with Him and wholly devoted to Him. No other place or person on earth can meet our need to be rooted and to belong, since we are made in His image, imprinted with a desire to cohabit with Him.

This truth became personal and practical to me when I faced an emotional and spiritual crisis in my initial years as an immigrant. Though I had been a Christian almost all my life, I struggled to cope with the enormity of change. I lost joy, peace, and a sense of purpose. I sank deeper and deeper into sadness and despair. I tried to fix my problem by traveling, watching TV, reading books, and volunteering, among other things. But nothing worked.

I knew only God could help me. Desperate, I joined a Bible study so I could find support in community. Studying the Bible and listening to others’ faith stories, rekindled in me a passion for God’s Word. As I spent more time reading the Bible, my laundry list of problems, requests, and challenges sunk to the bottom of my heart and His love, grace, and faithfulness floated to the top. All I wanted was to simply be in God’s presence. I craved His company. What I failed to do with my human mind and efforts, He managed to accomplish for me—He made me feel at home.

You too can find your true home in God.

God wants to have a personal, loving relationship with us. He gave His only Son Jesus Christ to be sacrificed on the cross so that we can be reconciled to Him. Jesus shed His blood to make us righteous, breaking the barrier of unholiness that prevented us from having access to the Father.

By loving God and obeying Him, we can make our home with Him. Our home with God is the only secure and permanent home that can fully satisfy us.

Intimacy with God is our true home.

Reflect: When you think of home what comes to mind?