The summer holiday season has arrived, and some have made plans to spend time with family and friends away from the normal routines of daily life. Maybe places will be visited for the 1st time which might give an opportunity to try different foods and experience different cultures. Others may spend time relaxing on the beach or use the break from work for more of an active holiday. Some will save money and stay at home to enjoy downtime from the daily grind of life.
This departure from the normal routine can leave us exposed to different temptations and if we are not careful we can be in danger of doing things we normally wouldn’t because ‘we are on holiday’. We don’t want to be people who leave their ‘religion’ behind at home, but rather may we be of this desire - ‘If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence.’ Exodus ch33 v14. When the Lord Jesus said to His disciples ‘Come ye, yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest awhile:…’ Mark ch6 v31 He went with them, He didn’t send them away to relax on their own. What compassion was shown to them by the Lord Jesus after the twelve disciples had returned from preaching the Kingdom of God. How thankful we should be for times of rest and change, that our desire would be to have some time to reflect on the goodness of our God and know some fellowship with Him.
Depart or variations of the word depart appear many times in the Word of God and are not connected to taking holidays. Abram was called by God to depart his native land and travel to a land not known to him – and he obeyed. ‘And Abram departed, as the Lord had spoken unto him:..’ Genesis ch12 v4. Many have ‘departed’ at the Lord’s command and proved a blessing in it as Abram proved. May we seek the guidance of God in all things and grace to walk in His ways. ‘Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.’ Psalm 37 v5
The Apostle Paul speaks of his death as being a ‘departure’ and one by the grace of God Paul was prepared for. ‘For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.’ 2 Timothy ch4 v6-8
We all must depart this world one day – are we prepared? Will we be leaving our ‘home’ or will be going ‘home’? ‘These all died in faith…and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For they that say such things declare plainly that they seek a country. And truly, if they had been mindful of that country from whence they came out, they might have had opportunity to have returned. But now they desire a better country, that is, an heavenly: wherefore God is not ashamed to be called their God: for he hath prepared for them a city.’ Hebrews ch11 v13-16
‘ …having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better.’ Philippians ch1 v23