You are not home yet......

Today it is hard on all who have labored and feel betrayed and beaten.... we must labor on because as in this story we are not home yet. 


From a sermon..... Sometimes, when we do something for God, we expect him to return the favor immediately. He doesn't always do that. I am reminded of a story of an old missionary couple who had served Christ for decades on the mission field in Africa. When age and health finally forced them to retire, they boarded a ship to return to America. By coincidence, President Teddy Roosevelt was aboard the same ship, returning from a big-game hunting expedition. When the ship came into the New York harbor, the missionary couple watched the fanfare that attended Roosevelt's return. The mayor and other dignitaries had come to meet the President. A brass band played as Roosevelt walked down the gangplank. A limousine and driver waited to take him in luxury to his hotel. It was a splendid scene. The missionary couple watched until the President and dignitaries had left. Then the husband turned to his wife and said, “It doesn't seem fair. We have served in Africa on the mission field for thirty years, and nobody even met the ship to welcome us home. This man spends a few weeks in Africa on a hunting trip, and is met by the mayor and a brass band. It just isn't fair!” His wife tried to console him, but he remained very upset. She said, “Why don't you pray about it!” The husband finally agreed to do that, and went into their cabin to pray. When he emerged, he no longer had an anguished look on his face. He was completely composed. His wife asked what had happened. He said, “The Lord settled it with me.” He said, “I told him how difficult it was to see Roosevelt receive such a grand homecoming, when no one—no one—had come to welcome us home.” He said, “When I finished, it seemed as if the Lord had put his hand on my shoulder. Then I heard him say, ‘But you're not home yet.’” You're not home yet! The Lord was saying, “Don't worry! I will take care of you. I will reward you. You have seen a Presidential homecoming, but you haven't seen anything yet!