An old missionary couple had been working in Africa for years, and were returning to New York City to retire. They had no pension; their health was broken; they were defeated, discouraged, and fearful of the future. They soon discovered they were booked on the same ship as President Teddy Roosevelt, who was returning from one of his big-game hunting expeditions. When the ship docked in New York, a band was waiting to greet the President. The mayor and other dignitaries were also there. Hundreds of people gathered to welcome the president home, but no one greeted or noticed this old missionary couple as they departed the ship. As they walked away, the old missionary man said to his wife, “This is wrong, we have given our entire lives in faithful service for God in Africa all these many years and have no one to greet us, no one to care a thing about us? Here this man comes back from a hunting trip and everybody makes much over him, but nobody gives two hoots about us.” “Dear, you shouldn’t feel that way,” his wife said. “I can’t help it; it doesn’t seem right.” I can’t take this; God is not treating us fairly.” His wife pondered her husband’s words for a few moments and then replied, “But sweetheart, you’re not home yet!”
Perhaps you are weary in well doing, you work hard for God and no one seems to notice or care. You hear very few “thank yous,” no applause, no pats on the back, no accolades. But you need to remember, you’re not home yet. You will be rewarded when you stand before Jesus one day. Don’t be weary, keep doing right. Your work for Jesus is not in vain.
“Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Corinthians 15:58).
“And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Galatians 6:9).
“We have labored in the vineyards of the Lord,
and it seems the world has stolen our reward.
But God has not forgotten
And when He call us home
We’ll receive eternal treasures
And a place of honor near his throne.
It’s not in vain
It’s not in vain
We serve a risen Savior
Jesus rules and reigns.
The heavens cheer us on
We do not walk alone.
Our labor, our witness, our faith, is not in vain.” – Lyrics by Dwight Liles, Mike Speck, and Niles Borop
If you are reading this, you’re not home yet. Keep laboring for your Savior, it’s not in vain!