The Leaving & The Going (Part 2)

I’m writing from Borivali, a suburb of Mumbai in India. This is my last day here and I’ll be boarding the plane for home in just a few more hours. I had planned to blog the day-to-day events here but there has been little internet access. I’ve never thought Facebook would be my pipeline home! I find myself again in that strange place of leaving to go, with similar pains in my heart but this time for different reasons. I’m leaving new friends and family in the Lord Jesus here in India. They have inspired me with their devotion to God and their tireless intercession. They have spurred me to do better at seeking the lost where I live and to persevere even when God doesn’t seem to be working. They have loved me very where, discipled me to follow Jesus better and shown me another wonderful example of how to love God and love others. It’s tough to leave them! Again, I’m grateful for Facebook to be able to keep in touch. Even though it’s hard to leave, my heart has been longing for home. There’s a face I want to see there, someone special that God has given me to walk through this life. I miss my Lori! Then there’s the gang at home that I call my sons and daughters. Waiting to feel their hugs and kiss their faces and be reunited is gnawing at my gut and praying for safe travel back. Then there’s this community of believers God is forming that has carried on in my absence. I’m really looking forward to being together with them again to worship and love each other and press on in the mission God has given us. I imagine this longing is a lot like our longing for heaven should be. We are aliens and strangers in a foreign land, this world is not our home. We are on a journey to get there and our time is short here compared to what it will be there. We long to see that someone special, to look on the face of Jesus and to hear the words, ‘Well done!’ We are looking forward to seeing family and friends that have gone before us, leaving us behind to carry on the work. Heaven is there waiting for us, Jesus has been preparing a place for us in His Father’s house, we will worship all the time and be free of sin. God will be our light and we’ll know His live like never before. Rev 21:3-7 (NLT), “I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.​4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.” 5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children. AND Rev 22:3-5 (NLT), “³ No longer will there be a curse upon anything. For the throne of God and of the Lamb will be there, and his servants will worship him. ⁴ And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads. ⁵ And there will be no night there—no need for lamps or sun—for the Lord God will shine on them. And they will reign forever and ever.” I am longing for this to come to pass too but in the meantime, I will continue to follow my Jesus here, doing what He’s called me to do, sharing His word, introducing people to Him and praying for the Kingdom of God to grow in us and through us. Do you know Him!? Have you received the Son Of God in your life? If not, I’d love to talk about that with you! Blessings, Pastor Greg