“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:1-3 NRS)
My wife and I had been asked to move to a new church pastorate. In the weeks leading up to our move, Bobbie and I worked tirelessly getting the parsonage we were leaving ready for the new pastoral family. As we cleaned and painted, I remembered what Jesus said about going to prepare a place for us, coming back to get us and taking us to that new home.
Like all such situations, this transition created stress and troubling questions. We weren’t too different from the disciples as Jesus approached his departure. We needed to trust the Lord too. Jesus knew his followers would always have issues that hindered their trust, but he helped us by focusing our attention on long-term victory rather than short-term terror. “if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”
We were transitioning from earthly home to earthly home. We were leaving old friends with hope of gaining new ones. We didn’t know exactly what to expect. But Jesus has gone to prepare our eternal home so that we may never move again. Our new, marvelous home is an eternal one. And as Paul wrote, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor. 2:9 NIV). Yet, we may trust that this new home will be marvelous.
When troubles come, fears arise and questions overwhelm us, we can remain balanced by trusting in the One who is preparing us a place in the Father’s house.
Dear Father, thank you for your promise of a place in your eternal home. Empower us to trust in Christ and look beyond the troubles and sorrows of this life to the joy of our Lord’s return. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be courageous today in trusting Christ,