New Perspective

About 100 years ago, there was a missionary named Samuel Morris. Samuel spent the last 25 years of his life-giving medicine and life to people in the darkest regions of Africa. Terminally ill, he wanted to go home to the United States to die. It just so happened Samuel traveled back to the states on the same ocean liner that brought President Teddy Roosevelt back from his famous African hunting expedition.

When the great ship pulled into New York harbor, it looked like the entire population of the lower 48 had shown up to greet the President. Bands were playing, balloons flew, flashbulbs popped, and newsreels were poised to record the return of the nation’s leader. Mr. Roosevelt stepped down the gangplank to thunderous cheers and applause.

At the same time, frail and exhausted, Samuel Morris limped off the boat at the other end. No one was there to greet him. He slowly made his way through the mob. There were no cabs available.

Inside his broken heart, he began to sadly complain, “Lord, the president has been in Africa for three weeks killing animals, and the whole world turns out to welcome him home. I’ve been in Africa 25 years, serving you and not one person has greeted me or even knows I’m here.”

No sooner had his heart whispered those pained words than his Lord and Savior replied. “My child, you’re not yet home.”

Let that be His response to you and me. When we start to become too attached to this world or the people in it, may God remind us this is temporary. It’s not home. When we look for the applause, love and attention of others, let Him remind us the homecoming celebration in Heaven is worth the wait.

“And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End, the First and the Last.” Revelation 22:12-13