Lent day 36

 John 14.Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God;a believe in Me as well. 2In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?b 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am. 4You know the way to the place where I am going.c”

We have had a look into heaven and seen the might and the majesty and the mind-bending sights and sounds. But now it's time to appreciate what it's going to be like for each of us personally.  Jesus is talking to His best friends here. He knows He is about to break their hearts, devastate their faith and leave them.

I think we often read 'do not let your hearts be troubled' as 'don't worry'.  But it's not that. It's firstly a command. Do not, under any circumstances allow or permit your innermost trust and love and confidence in me be shaken, disrupted, unsettled. Do not.  You have a choice. Choose to trust and believe no matter how bad things get.

Why? Because in the same way God is true, ever present, ever active, powerful, sustaining.... So am I. Jesus is declaring Himself to be God. And God has a house. A dwelling. Somewhere He Himself lives.  A home.  There's a difference between a house and a home. A house is bricks and mortar. A home is love and laughter and tears and food and sleep and mess and safety. And it's ours.  Home is my place. It's where I can be me. God has got that home waiting for me.  Jesus has got it ready for me by dying and rising He has made a way for me.  Everything is prepared and waiting for us just as Jesus has ordained it.  I find it fascinating that Jesus came to earth as a carpenter. Not a fisherman or a greengrocer or a blacksmith.  I wonder if our heavenly homes will be furnished.  And if so if they will be furnished with things hand crafted from wood.  Just a thought.

Jesus is Truth. We can believe Him when He says He is going ahead of us to make sure everything is ready for us to come home.  The prodigal father threw a party when his son came home.  What do you think the welcome will be like for you?  Departed loved ones have been received into this homestead, this place of safe familiarity and joy.  Hallelujah

Not only is there a place. There is a welcome. A personal welcome by Jesus.  Can't wait to see Him face to face. We will be welcomed 'into His presence'.   That heaven we have been looking at,  the realm of His glory, the music and rainbows and angels.  That is where He is and He tells us that where He is we shall also be.

Our prayer today can be 'lord I want to be where You are'.  So often we invite Jesus to join us rather than asking Him where He is going, what He is doing and then asking if we can join Him. 

Finally, good news, we know how to get there. Believe. Trust. Accept. 

Have a blessed day x



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