GOING HOME . . .

The elderly widow had a twinkle in her eye and a peaceful smile on her face when she beckoned me to come closer to her hospital bed. Through the oxygen mask, she quietly whispered, "I'm ready to go when Jesus comes to take me home." Firm in her faith and satisfied that she had done all that she could have done to serve the Lord during her 85 years of life, this diminutive woman told me that her only regret was that her children had not chosen to be active Church members during their adult lives.

And yet, her sons have been unmistakeably good and loyal to their mother, looking after her every need with the love and respect that Jehovah has specified in the Ten Commandments that were given to Moses, "Honor thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee." (Exodus 20:12) Having been taught correct principles from the days of their youth, these men have tenderly ministered to their aged mother's physical and emotional care without embracing the spiritual truths of the gospel of Jesus Christ that have always been the very core of their mother's life. 

For every soul who has ever lived on this earth, there is a day of reckoning when we will be required to stand before our Maker and account for what we have done or not done with our lives. There are those who profess that there is no God, that our existence begins with birth and ends when we die, and that we should get out of life what we can while we can.

I witness that there is much, much more to life than what you can see, or touch, or feel in this physical and materialistic world. We are literally the sons and daughters of God, and we were created spiritually before we were born here to earthly parents. We have been sent to this place to gain a body of flesh and bones, to learn obedience to the commandments of God, and to provide the means by which others of Heavenly Father's spirit children can be born into this mortal life.

God's Plan of Salvation, which is also known as the Plan of Happiness, recognizes that we are imperfect beings who are subject to making mistakes and committing sins while we journey through life. Because of our weaknesses and shortcomings, God has provided a Savior who is Christ the Lord. Through His atoning sacrifice in the garden at Gethsemene and again on the cross at Calvary, we can repent, be forgiven, and then go home to be with God.

When we leave life's visible shore, we are going home

Can there be a more beautiful thought than that of going home to a loving Father after we have lived out the span of years allotted to us in mortality? Certainly, this dear elderly Church member in the hospital was looking forward to that blessed event (she went home peacefully two days ago), and so should we if we have placed our trust in the Lord.

GOING HOME

William Arms Fisher & Ken Bible

Going home, going home, I'm just going home.

Quiet-like, slip away- I'll be going home.

It's not far, just close by; Jesus is the Door;

Work all done, laid aside, Fear and grief no more.

Friends are there, waiting now. He is waiting, too.

See His smile! See His hand! He will lead me through.

Morning Star lights the way; Restless dream all done;

Shadows gone, break of day, Life has just begun.

Every tear wiped away, Pain and sickness gone;

Wide awake there with Him! Peace goes on and on!

Going home, going home, I'll be going home.

See the Light! See the Sun! I'm just going home.