The Christian’s Journey Home

May 27

A young woman staring at a sky of stars and the text of Hebrews 11:16 is pictured.

As I slowly read through The Pilgrim’s Progress–an allegorical story of the life of faith–I’m struck by the bird’s eye view of Christian endurance. The Pilgrim (named Christian) persists through great difficulty, oppression, sorrows, loneliness, depression, and the sin that so often assails. And he persists because of his great desire to arrive at the City of Zion–the Lord’s country.

Hebrews 11 regales us with the stories of so many who have gone before us, who have endured by faith. Hebrews 11:16 gives us their why: “...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” (ESV).

This is our why as well. We persevere in our faith not because it’s trendy or it’s what good Christians do. We persist for we too desire the homeland of the King. We too desire a home of perfect union with our Lord– “He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God" (Rev. 21:3).

This is what we strive for, sister. Just as The Pilgrim’s Progress depicts the life of a Christian as one of trials and temptations, it remains a life of endurance. By faith, we journey to our better and true homeland.

If today you face difficulty, discouragement, or weariness in your walk, remember that it was the Word and promise of God that sustained the cloud of witnesses before us. They walked by faith, sustained by the Word and goodness of the Savior who is “the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2). Look to the Lord as the sure aid to your faith, as the One who has endured and faithfully comes to offer mercy and help. Look to Christ, who shares in our suffering and is able to stand as a rich comfort to us (2 Cor. 1:5). Cling to the Lord, who is faithful and true–able to strengthen you and keep you.

Meet the Author
Stephanie Wilcox

Stephanie is an avid tea drinker, thrifter, and reader. Stephanie and her husband, Brandon, live in the Pittsburgh suburbs with their three children, where they enjoy participating in serving the body of Christ together. In the constant pursuit of delight in the Creator, you can most often find her outside with her kids, with bare toes in the grass, hiking, or pulling weeds out of her mediocre garden.