Are You Ready to Move?

‘Tis the season for moving. I’ve seen several posts on Facebook from friends who are moving—some only a mile or two—others across the country.

Check out this photo posted by a Facebook friend. Don’t you love the humor in the midst of all the work?

Over the last month our church staff has been packing, organizing, and preparing for an office relocation. We rented a storage unit for items that won’t fit in the new office space, which is about a third the size of our previous one. We’ve spent hours sorting, labeling, and deciding what we need to keep and what we can do without. 

Last Saturday, the hottest day of the year, we moved the bulk of the large items with help from a few of our church members. Funny how a decent-sized room shrinks when you put furniture in it. 

This week we are unpacking and setting up the new place, while still going through books and other items that remain at the previous office. We’ll be doing more runs to the storage unit and dropping off donations to a local charity. 

Calgon… take me away. (If you’re not old enough to remember that, Google it)

I daresay few people go through life without making at least one major relocation. The main character in my novel even makes a move. 

Having moved multiple times over the twenty years my husband was in the Navy, I know all about the process, but that doesn’t make the work involved any less exhausting.

But there’s good news if you have a relationship with Jesus. One day we will make one final move to our forever home! And guess what, we don’t have to pack, unpack, or worry about renting a storage unit, because we will take nothing with us.

“For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.” 1 Timothy 6:7

And when we get there, everything will already be set up and ready for us to move right in.

My 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? And 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. John 14:2-3

I’ve seen some beautiful homes, and I love the home I live in now, but any home on earth pales in comparison to the glorious eternal home we will enjoy.

The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. Revelation 21:18-21 (I encourage you to read all of chapter 21) 

Just imagine the beautiful place God has prepared for His children. I’m looking forward to this final relocation—how about you? 

But what is our role in this move? If we don’t have to pack, and we take nothing with us, do we just sit back, relax, and wait for the Lord to take us home? Of course not. We must prepare and be ready and watchful.

“Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like servants waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks, they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. Truly I tell you, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them ready, even if he comes in the middle of the night or toward daybreak. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.” Luke 12:35-40

Faith and works must function together in our lives as we prepare for our future home. No, we don’t work to get to heaven, but we work because God has promised heaven. Our works are evidence that our faith is active and genuine.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? James 2:14

So, are you ready to move? I am.

I’m going old school with a Southern Gospel song from Gold City quartet called, “Moving Up to Gloryland.” This takes me waaayy back. Enjoy—the song and the retro style. 🙂

Join the conversation. Describe the home you’ve lived in that you loved most. What did you love about it? How many times have you moved? How are you preparing for the final move?