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, that where I am you may be also. – John 14:2-3
At the prospect of a visit from a loved one, people may go into a flurry of activity in preparation. They clean house, ready the guest room, and plan and purchase groceries for the meals. The time spent in preparation may be longer than the actual visit! The visit may go too quickly and, as the cherished time together ends, the host and guest look back on their time together, once again separated by distance.
It may be hard to imagine what is involved in the preparation Jesus is doing to get ready for the eternal visit of His followers. In today’s verse, the words “that where I am you may be also” are very special indeed. As it is often said, Christianity is not a religion, it is a relationship. Heaven is described as a grand place of joy, peace, and glory, but the greatest blessing of Heaven is to be with Jesus and with His people who have gone on before.
All too soon, the time of preparation will pass. For those who are ready, there will be no more separation. What are you to do in preparation for Heaven? Receive Jesus as Lord and Savior. Let the Holy Spirit lead you as you walk by faith. Get to know the Lord through Bible study, prayer, and church attendance. Love God and others using your gifts, talents, and resources. All too soon this time of preparation will be over. In the meantime, pray for the United States, its citizens, and public officials, that they will awaken to faith and be ready for that Day.
Today’s Verse: John 14:2-3
2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Recommended for further reading: 2 Corinthians 5:1-10
5 For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling, 3 if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked. 4 For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. 5 He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.
All Scripture quotations and audio are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
