Finally Home

She only wanted to go home.
He wanted nothing more than to bring her there.
But as her breaths grew shorter, so did the distance between them.
She was on her deathbed.
And He was almost finished setting the table.
She would be there at any minute. . .
Just in time for Supper.¹

She's been waiting for this day. She's been trying on her wedding dress for many years; twirling around in front of a mirror like a little girl and dreaming of the day when she wouldn't have to take it off. At last, the day has come, and she can hardly wait to leave her filthy rags behind to be clothed in splendor. She never dreamed that these filthy rags would become her path to glory. . .

She remembered the words He spoke to her at the beginning of the journey:
"Your path to glory will be a difficult one, beloved, but the reward that I'm preparing for you is far beyond conceivable! ² Keep running with all the strength that you can find, though the path seems insurmountable. Just a few more days, beloved, and you'll be coming home!"

Now she was at the end of such a long journey, yet the beginning seemed just a few days before. All of the stumbling and falling was far behind her now; and the finish line was in sight, within her reach . . .

None of the stumbling mattered now, because He caught her every time she fell. Her every tear had dried in the palm of His hand. Every moment of pain, loneliness, and fear was spent in His embrace. During these moments, He would send whispers of His glory to her like letters from home. She clung to these glimpses of glory revealed with all of her strength, but now, it was finally time to put them away. She is running with every last bit of her remaining strength into arms spread wide open . . .

The groom looks with satisfaction upon His completed preparations. "It is finished," He declares. "Bring my beloved home!"
He watches His bride come over the horizon that He painted especially for her arrival. Her rags are gone, and she's clothed in her wedding dress. Oh, He's been waiting for her. . .

The gates are opening, and the bride's still running. As she ascends His holy hill, she sees what her heart has been longing for: her groom. And He's running too.

Sing, O Daughter of Zion;
shout aloud, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart,
O Daughter of Jerusalem! 3

All things are made new in this long-awaited embrace. He excitedly declares, "Come, beloved, I've been waiting to show you! Do you see all the things I've been telling you about? Come dance with me in the garden! Do you see the colors that I made just for you? Come with me to the banquet hall, for the table is ready. Well done, my servant, well done! All of Heaven applauds; and look, the Son of Man is standing! This is what I entrusted you with, and you were faithful. Look around you, dear, for great is your reward!
Beloved, you are finally home!"

I can only imagine
What it will be like
When I walk
By your side

I can only imagine
What my eyes will see
When your face
Is before me
I can only imagine

Surrounded by Your glory, what will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of you be still
Will I stand in your presence or to my knees will I fall
Will I sing hallelujah, will I be able to speak at all
I can only imagine

I can only imagine
When that day comes
And I find myself
Standing in the Son

I can only imagine
When all I will do
Is forever
Forever worship You
I can only imagine! ⁴

1: The Wedding Supper of the Lamb. See Revelation 19:7.
2: 1 Corinthians 2:9
3: Zephaniah 3:14
4: I Can Only Imagine by MercyMe
5: Matthew 6:10
6: Homesick by MercyMe
7: See Martyr's Song by Todd Agnew.

Your kingdom come. . .⁵
I've never been more homesick than now. ⁶