Easter - 2018

Thursday, August 8, 2013

The reward of dwelling with God today!


 One of my favorite missionary stories is of Henry C. Morrison. Mr. & Mrs. Morrison were faithful missionaries who served the Lord in Africa for over 40 years. He recalls that emotional day when he and his wife boarded a ship on their way back to the United States. His mind flooded with memories of the wonderful experiences they had enjoyed on the mission field.

He began wondering what it would be like to return to his Midwestern hometown. “Will anyone there still remember us?”

Aboard that same ship that day with Henry and his wife was the President of the United States, Teddy
Roosevelt. He was returning from a big game hunting trip in Africa. When the ship pulled into the New York harbor there were thousands of people there to greet the arriving President. The crowds were cheering and the bands were playing. There were signs, banners and billboards everywhere saying, “Welcome Home” .

Mr. Morrison and his wife with their luggage in hand quietly made their way to the deck of the ship
to exit. No one had come to welcome them back home. There were no bands playing or banners flying in their honor. Henry Morrison went to his hotel room with a rather heavy heart. As he sat there on the bed, he asked his wife, “Honey, for 40 years we poured our lives into ministry and service. And yet we come back to America and not a single soul comes to welcome us home!”

His wife came and sat down next to her husband. She put her hand on his shoulder, and said to him,
Henry, you have forgotten something, you’re not home yet!”

When we dwell with God in this life, we realize that we are not home yet. What great words those are! “We’re not home yet.” 1 Corinthians 3:16 states, Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? As we suffering in this life, we can dwell with God and His spirit comforts us with the words that this is temporary...the best is yet to come. He reminds us that we are not home yet. We dwell with God today in knowing the best is yet to come....today is not about the here and now, but about the there and then.

You know I love ya, Don

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I have been trying to authenticate this story. So far, no success. Do you have a source? What mission board/church/denomination was Henry Morrison serving under?