This is a chapter from J.C. Ryle's classic book Practical Religion.
OUR HOME
"Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations." Psalm 90:1
That is a verse to make one lean back and think. It is from the only Psalm ascribed to "Moses, the man of God."
1. What this world truly is. It is a beautiful world in many respects, but many things in it remind us that it is not home.
A. It is a changing world. All around us is continually moving, altering, and passing away. Families, properties, landlords, tenants, workers, and students are regularly on the move. To find the same name in the same dwelling for three generations is so uncommon, it is the exception, not at all the rule. A world so full of change cannot be called home.
B. It is a trying and disappointing world. Trials in married and single life, trials with children and brothers and sisters, trials in money and health matters—how many they are! Yet not the tenth part of them perhaps ever comes to light, for all families have their secrets. A world so full of trials and disappointments cannot be called home.
C. It is a dying world. Death is continually about us or near us. Few are the family gatherings when there are not empty chairs and vacant places. Where are the boys and girls we played with when we went to school? Surely a world so full of death can never be called a home.
D. It is a scattered and divided world. Families are continually breaking up and going in different directions. How rarely do members of a family ever meet together again after the surviving parent is laid in the grave. The cement seems withdrawn from the parts of the building and the whole principle of cohesion is lost. How often some miserable squabble about trinkets or money makes a breach that is never healed. A world so full of division can never be home.
These are all ancient things, the bitter fruits of sin that entered the world when Adam and Eve transgressed. We must not fret or complain, however, but must steadily resolve to make the best of everyone and everything around us. Learn to moderate your expectations and not regard this world as your lasting home. This state of things will not last forever. The Word of God tells us that "the time is short: it remains that both they that have wives be as though they had none; and they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy as though they possessed not; and they that use this world as not abusing it, for the fashion of this world passes away" (1 Corinthians 7:29-31).
2. What Christ truly is, even in this life, to true Christians. Heaven is the final home in which a true Christian will dwell at last. Towards that end he is daily traveling; nearer to that she is daily coming. We know that if the earthly house of our body, "this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens" (2 Corinthians 5:1). Body and soul united once more, renewed, beautified, and perfected, will live forever in the Father's great house in heaven. To that home we have not yet come; we are not yet in heaven.
But is there in the meantime no home for our souls? Thank God, there is no difficulty in finding an answer to that question. There is a home now provided for all laboring and heaven-laden souls: that home is Christ Himself. To know Christ by faith, to live the life of faith in Him, abiding in Him daily by faith, fleeing to Him in every storm of conscience, our refuge in every day of trouble, employing Him as our Confessor, Absolver, and spiritual Director every morning and evening is to be at home spiritually even before we die. Jesus said, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him" (John 14:23). The risen Christ declared, "Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:20). In the midst of a dying, changing, disappointing world, a true Christian has a home in Christ no power on earth can take away. Like those humblest of God's creatures that carry their shells on their backs, wherever they are, so the Christian, wherever he goes, carries his home.
A. No home like Christ: In Him there is room for all sorts. No matter how prodigal, those who repent and turn to Him will find the best robe, the fatted calf, the ring, and the shoes always ready for all comers (Luke 15:11-32). All may be pardoned. There is a home and refuge where your soul may be admitted this very day. That home is Christ. "Come to Me," He cries. "Knock and the door shall be opened to you" (Matthew 11:28; 7:7).
B. No home like Christ: In Him there is boundless and unwearied mercy for all, even after admission. None are rejected and cast out. This is no probationary home. Whom Christ receives, He keeps. What good work He begins in a life He completes (Philippians 1:6). Whom He justifies before God through His saving work on the cross, He progressively sanctifies in this life and instantly glorifies in the next. No hopeless characters are ever sent away from His house. No men are women are ever found too bad to heal and renew. Nothing is too hard for Him to do who made the world out of nothing. He who is Himself the Home has declared, "All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out" (John 6:37).
C. No home like Christ: In Him there is unvarying kindness, patience, and gentle dealing for all. He is not austere, but is "gentle and lowly of heart" (Matthew 11:29). None who apply to Him are ever treated roughly or made to feel that their company is not welcome. The Holy Spirit is placed inside them and dwells in them as in a temple. Leading, guiding, and instruction are daily provided for them. If they err, they are brought back into the right way; if they fall, they are raised again; if they sin willingly, they are chastised to make them better. But the rule of the whole house is love.
D. No home like Christ: In Him there is no change. From the youngest to the oldest, He loves all who come to Him and never tires of doing them good. Earthly homes, by comparison, are full of fickleness and uncertainty. Favor is deceitful. Courtesy and civility may be on your hosts' lips, but inwardly they may be weary of your company and wish you were gone. You seldom know how long your presence is welcome or to what extent your friends really care to see you. But it is not at all like that with Christ. He "is the same yesterday, today, and forever" (Hebrews 13:8).
E. No home like Christ: Friendship once begun with Him shall never be broken off. Once joined to the Lord by faith, you are joined to Him for an endless eternity. Earthly homes always come to an end sooner or later; the dear old furniture is sold and dispersed. It is not like that with Christ. Faith will at length be swallowed up in sight; hope shall be changed into certainty. We shall one day see with our eyes and no longer need to believe. Those whose names are inscribed in the Lamb's Book of Life belong to a home that shall continue forever.
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