Is it sinful to desire death, as an escape from the pain of this world, and to escape

the pain caused by our own sinfulness?

Marissa, a listener to the podcast, is brave enough to ask it.

Dear Pastor John, is it a sin to long to go home?

I am a 31-year-old and my life is ruined.

I dread the rest of my life.

Because of sin, I have lost everyone I love most, and I mean everyone.

I feel like my very poor choices can't be redeemed while here on earth, even though I have

repented and confessed of my sins.

I am terrified of what awaits me, including having to remain single until I die because

of an ensuing divorce that I don't want, but did cause.

And never having the blessing of forming a family.

Is it a sin to want to go home and to be with Jesus?

Your teachings are among the few things that keep me going.

Pastor John, what would you say to Marissa?

Marissa, let me give what I think is a clear, biblical answer in general to your question,

and then circle around to your situation in particular with some, I pray, hopeful words.

The biblical answer in general is that it is not a sin to long for heaven and for the presence

of Christ with a sense of aching dismay over the sin and sorrows of this world and of

our own lives.

In fact, I would say that the more one knows of the real condition of this world and the

more one grieves over the remaining corruption of our own hearts, the more natural it is to

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