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「我們原知道，我們這地上的帳篷若拆毀了，必得神所造，不是人手所造，在天上永存的房屋。」（聖經哥林多後書五 章 1 節）
我居住了多年的屋子已經破舊不堪了，屋主通知我他不願意在花錢去修理了。他勸我還是預備遷居吧！
我聽了這個消息，起初很不樂意。這屋子四周的環境太有趣了，如果不是因為太破舊的緣故，我簡直不想遷居。但是如今一陣微風就夠叫它搖動震顫，所以我不能不預備遷居了。
真奇怪，我的興趣很快地就轉移到未來的新屋上面去了。我參考地圖，調查居民，遣人到那邊去視察。視察的人回來告訴我那邊的情形非常美好。他說他因為要在那邊投資的緣故，情願變賣他在這邊一切所有的；雖然別人說他犧牲太大，他還是樂意去 作。還有一個我所最愛的朋友，現在也在那邊。他託人帶了些最美味的水果來給我。我嘗了以後，再吃這邊的水果，簡直無味極 了。
啊！我渴望立刻到那邊去，和那些人站在一起唱詩讚美被殺的羔羊。我有很多朋友已經搬到那邊去了。他們去的時候， 他們的臉上都帶著微笑。多少時候，有人勸我在這邊投資，我總回答說：「我已在預備遷居了」。── 選
主耶穌在世上末了幾天所說的，都說到「往父那裏去」（約翰福音十六章 17節）。我們今天也該看見將來的「往父那裏去」。雖然我們將來的家到底怎樣，我們現在還看不清楚，但是有兩點是頂清楚的：這是家 ── 「父的家」（約翰福音十四章 2 節），這是我們的主所在的地方。就這兩點，已經夠叫我們渴慕了。 ──吉利 (R. C. Gillie)
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“For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.: (2 Cor. 5:1.)
The owner of the tenement which I have occupied for many years has given notice that he will furnish but little or nothing more for repairs. I am advised to be ready to move.
At first this was not a very welcome notice. The surroundings here are in many respects very pleasant, and were it not for the evidence of decay, I should consider the house good enough. But even a light wind causes it to tremble and totter, and all the braces are not sufficient to make it secure. So I am getting ready to move.
It is strange how quickly one’s interest is transferred to the prospective home. I have been consulting maps of the new country and reading descriptions of its inhabitants. One who visited it has returned, and from him I learn that it is beautiful beyond description; language breaks down in attempting to tell of what he heard while there. He says that, in order to make an investment there, he has suffered the loss of all things that he owned here, and even rejoices in what others would call making a sacrifice. Another, whose love to me has been proven by the greatest possible test, is now there. He has sent me several clusters of the most delicious fruits. After tasting them, all food here seems insipid.
Two or three times I have been down by the border of the river that forms the boundary, and have wished myself among the company of those who were singing praises to be King on the other side. Many of my friends have moved there. Before leaving they spoke of my coming later. I have seen the smile upon their faces as they passed out of sight. Often I am asked to make some new investments here, but my answer in every case ia, “I am getting ready to move.” ---Selected.
The words often on Jesus’ lips in His last days express vividly the idea, “going to the Father.” We, too, who are Christ’s people, have vision of something beyond the difficulties and disappointments of this life. We are journeying towards fulfillment, completion, expansion of life. We, too, are “going to the Father.” Much is dim concerning our home-country, but two things are clear. It is home. “the Father’s House.” It is the nearer presence of the Lord. We are all wayfarers, but the believer knows it and accepts it. He is a traveller, not a settler. ---R. C. Gillie.
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