In My Father's house there are many dwelling places;
if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to
prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place
for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself,
that where I am, there you may be also.
John 14:2-3
These words are what make the Christian life worth living, in fact, without these words the Christian life would not be worth living at all. For Paul tells us in I Corinthians 15:19, "If we have hoped in Christ in this life only, we are of all men most to be pitied."
The truth, stated plainly by Jesus here, is that heaven is a real place, it is the place where God dwells, there are many other dwelling places there, and Jesus will personally prepare a dwelling place for each one of us in the heaven of His Father. Although we cannot get there on our own He is coming back for us to take us there, and we will be with Him there for as long as He is there. If not for this truth, why on earth would we give up the things of this world? For without this truth this world is all there is; but with this truth something more glorious, more abounding in riches, more peaceful, more magnificent, more splendid, and more fulfilling awaits us; and that is dwelling with both the Father and the Son for all eternity.
Rejoice, O Christian, for your heavenly Father, the Father of lights, the creator of the ends of the earth, has a place specially prepared for you to spend eternity with Him. Rejoice, O Christian, that your name is written in the Lamb's book of life, His reservation list, never to be erased. Rejoice, O Christian, that your heavenly Father has loved you so, so as to provide the way to Him through His Son; and to guarantee that reservation by dipping His pen in the well of the blood of His Son to write it down. Rejoice, O Christian, for earth recedes and heaven draws ever nearer. Rejoice, O Christian, for what awaits you on the other side of this life. Rejoice, O Christian, for the certainty of the life to come, given through the promise from Jesus, Himself.
O friends, have you placed your hope for eternity, for the life beyond this life, in the person of Christ? Have you placed all your trust in what He has done to secure that life for you? Have you come to God acknowledging your sin, your helplessness, your hopelessness, your absolute need of His mercy, compassion, and grace? Have you asked Him to forgive you and save you? Have you cast yourself upon Him as your Savior? He is not far away, He is near if you would but reach out and call out to Him! Today is the day, wait no longer to secure your place in heaven, for none of us are guaranteed tomorrow.
God bless you all.
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