198. Our True Homeland Is In Heaven

1. Our true Homeland is in heaven!
As a man may, lost in thought,
Even though by tumult driven,
Thing of home, disturbed by naught;
When his feet him onward carry
To the home his heart holds dear;
So we now in heaven tarry
Though we still may sojourn here.

2. Who loves us, and love is giving,
Is the One our strivings choose;
For the soul alone is living
Unto Him who His love shows.
There alone the soul finds pleasure,
There alone is satisfied;
Nothing else the soul would treasure,
Save, where love is, to abide.

3. Jesus’ love the heart upraises,
Like a magnet, to the skies;
Every prayer the spirit raises,
As on wings we seem to rise.
We are walking here and living
As before the Savior’s face;
All our dealing and perceiving
Do not this vain would embrace.

4. If men in contempt withstand us,
Our dear Lord, who loves us so,
In His holy Word commands us
Here to love our greatest foe.
He who died for our salvation,
Gave us heaven’s home on high,
Wills that by our conversation
His Name we should glorify.

5. Could our Homeland be in heaven,
While we earthly-minded live?
And we, who have been forgiven,
Not forget and not forgive?
Could we only love our brothers,
And then hate who hatred bear?
Not, like Jesus, one another’s
Every burden gladly share?

6. But where there is hatred ever,
Envy, malice, blasphemy -
Where these are the heart can never
With the loving Savior be.
For true love is always growing
Like the Loved One, more and more;
May we strive till we are glowing
In the Image we adore.

7. Let me not from Thee be turning,
Savior, who so faithful art;
From Thee may I here be learning
To be heavenly at heart!
Let not any earthly leaven
Make me worldly-minded here,
Till at last with Thee in heaven
I shall be most blesséd there!