PREPARATION OF A PLACE

Let not your heart be troubled:
ye believe in God, believe also in me.

In my Father's house are many
mansions: if it were not so, I
would have told you. I go to
prepare a place for you.

And if I go and prepare a place for
you, I will come again, and
receive you unto myself; that
where I am, there ye may be also.
John 14:1-3

With the exception of where we now live in beautiful East Tennessee, there has been something very consistent in my life with my husband. We have lived many places, five of which meant the construction of a house where we would live. We have leased a couple of times, but Brian has usually seen those places before I did. When we made a move to Virginia, he went ahead to find a place to lease for a couple of years. He brought back pictures of the house we would live in for that time. When it has come to the roof over our heads, most of the time Brian has taken me to the places he already arranged for. I trusted him to the fullest in the making of such decisions.

Brian has always had good taste in so many ways and choosing a place for us to live was n exception. He's usually picked a place as new a possible for many obvious reasons. All places have been clean and nice and some brand new even to the point of our building a new place. We've never lived in a mansion, nor would we go looking for one.

I must admit when I think about a place to live in Heaven, I get a little concerned. You see, I don't care all that much about anything gold...jewelry, gilt items, etc. For ten years now, I've lived in Eastern Tennessee, a stone's throw from our house to the Smoky Mt. National Park. We are surrounded by “green” as far as the eye can see. I love trees in all of their various shades of green glory. I can't imagine from Scripture what Heaven will be like, but I read of gold, gates of pearl and various precious stones in Heaven's foundation. It's sounds lovely. but I sure would like a green tree or two I can look at.

In pondering all of this not long ago, the Holy Spirit just put on my heart that it really doesn't make that much of a difference the physical make up of Heaven. The cosmetics of it all are going to pale in light of what it will be like with being with Jesus, the Light of the World. Just the privilege of sitting around the throne with Jesus at the right hand of the Father with all believers will be more than we can comprerhend. It was the same with Brian's preparations. Even if I hadn't liked a place, it would have been home because Brian would be there.

Jesus was very clear about His leaving the disciples and as disturbed as they were, Jesus gave them some points of encouragement that are meant for us to consider as well. Those are found in the above verses. Read them and try to soak it all in. Wrap yourself in John's chapters 14-17 and immerse yourself in Jesus' final, personal time with His disciples..

We read these verses and feel they are for the disciples only. Jesus spoke on our behalf as well. We won't always be on the earth in the middle of all it's muck. There will be a day when we, His children, will know eternal peace, an uninterrupted peace...an eternal peace like we've never known. We'll have no more political promises of unity or military promises of peace treaties. There will be no more striving between races or other cultural concerns. We will know a peace and contentment we can't even imaging right now. What a glorious day that will be.

Thank You Jesus for going to prepare places for us where we'll abide with You forever. Thank You for the hope you have placed in our hearts and for Your shed blood that covers we, Your chidlren. In Your precious name I pray...Amen