Seeking a Homeland

8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called … And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land… 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God….

13 These [believers] all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared for them a city. Hebrews 11:8-16

The great poet Dante understood what it was like to be far from home, with no chance of going back: “You shall find out how salt is the taste of another man's bread, and how hard is the way up and down another man's stairs.” The refugees and immigrants who come to this country understand this by daily experience. Nothing is the same—not the spices, not the voices and accents, not even the smells in the air. And it hurts.

But as Christians, we understand the feeling too, don’t we? Because we too are far from our Father’s home, living as exiles and aliens in a world where every day reminds us we don’t belong and aren’t welcome. And we long for the city God is preparing—our everlasting home with Jesus our Savior, who died and rose again to make us God’s children.

Since we suffer in the same way, what fellow-feeling we should have for our new neighbors! What brotherly or sisterly kindness we can show them in Christ, as we pray for them and give in order to meet their daily needs. Above all, we can do whatever we can to help them they come to know and trust in the Lord, who has no favorites and who calls all of us, from every nation, to become His own family through Jesus our Savior.

Dear Father, please use me to show Your welcoming love to new Americans. Amen.

By Dr. Kari Vo