Christian Living

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When Olawale Junior,my son, was about three years old,he went on a journey with her mother to my sister in another state in Nigeria.The agreement between me and his mother my wife was they should stay there for two weeks.Both embarked on the trip happily.
On the third day,in the evening,they were back home. I was greatly astonished! I wondered how two weeks became three days.The mother had a story on the son.What was it?
Olawale Junior was happy on the day they arrived at Ilaro,Ogun state.The following morning,this darling-of-his-father told his mother that they should return home.He was not taken serious until he refused to eat and before evening of the second day,he was ill.On the third day,they took their return trip home.
Yours may not be like that of Junior,but the questions remain: Are you a darling of your Heavenly Father? How Often Are You Home Sick? Which home am I saying? Which home do I mean? Philippians 3:20 says,
"For our citizenship is in heaven,from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior,the Lord Jesus Christ."
The Lord Jesus has promised in John 14:3 that
"And if I go and prepare a place for you,I will come again and receive you to Myself;that where I am,there you may be also."
How often do you meditate on these verses of the Scriptures? Have you forgotten that you will one day depart this sinful world? How often do you crave it? Let me leave you with this agelong hymn that you can sing in the morning and in the evening to keep your heart to think more of home on high.This will help you to hold loosely to this world and tightly to the things of the above.
Thanks to Samuel Crossman for the words of the song and Charles Steggall for the music.Both are of blessed memory.
THE HYMN
Jerusalem on high,
My song that city is,
My home when'ever I die;
the centre of my bliss;
Chorus
O happy place
When shall I be
My God,with thee
to see Thy face?

There dwells my Lord,my king,
judged here unfit to live;
There angels to Him sing
and lowly homage give;
Chorus
O happy place!...

The patriarchs of old there
from their travel cease;
The prophets there behold
their longed for Prince,
Chorus
O happy place!...

The Lamb Apostles'there
I might with joy behold,
The harpers I might hear,
harping on harps of gold;
Chorus
O happy place!...

The bleeding martyrs,
they within those courts are found,
Clothed in pure array
their scars with glory crown,
Chorus
O happy place!...

Ah me! Ah me! that I
in Kedar's tent here stay;
No place like that on high;
Lord thither guide my way.
Chorus
O happy place!...
It is sad to note that this song has been,in many denominations,restricted to burial ground alone.No record to show that Samuel Crossman and Charles Steggall meant this song for the graveside only.How long have you heard this song sang in the church to draw members attention home? Therefore,to keep your mind on high,sing this song regularly.The words of the song speak volumes.Sing it until you are with your LORD!

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