A.C. Blackwell - Going Home

In this sermon preached on May 9, 1976, A.C. Blackwell speaks about the longing to go home—not merely to an earthly home, but to the eternal home prepared by God. Blackwell recalls his own service during World War II and the overwhelming desire he felt to return home when the war was over. He uses that experience to illustrate the Christian’s anticipation of the day when we receive our final “discharge” from this life and are called home to heaven. Along the way, Blackwell considers the evidence for the existence of God, including the testimony of creation, and draws from Hebrews 2 in discussing mankind and our relationship to our Creator. He also refers to prominent atheist Madalyn Murray O’Hair as he contrasts atheism with belief in God. Drawing especially from 2 Corinthians 5:1–9, Blackwell reflects upon Paul’s desire to be at home with the Lord. He also recalls Jesus’ promise of the Father’s house in John 14:2. For the Christian, heaven is the home for which we long—a place without disease and death, where the evils of this world are left behind. Above all, it is home because Jesus is there.