Our heavenly home

 John 14:2-3

My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.

It is a sad truth that some people often evaluate who we are based on our earthly homes. They are impressed when the house we live in looks like a mansion, with all the trimmings money can buy. They then perceive us as influential, powerful, and successful in life, even if they do not know whether this is true or not. Whereas a low-key abode in a poorly kept neighbourhood gives them the opposite impression – we are seen as unsuccessful, powerless and without influence in the world around us, again without any known facts by which to form this impression.

But with Jesus, things get turned upside down. He Himself referred to the fact that during His ministry, He did not even own a home to live in (Matthew 8:20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”) As a homeless roaming Rabbi, He drew all manner of people to His side – from the extremely rich to the extremely poor. And the emerging first church after His ascension, still so pure in their intention to emulate Him, did not strive to outdo one another with the quality and quantity of their possessions - in fact the rich sold their assets and distributed the money among the poor (Acts 4:34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales). Following Jesus suddenly made sharing with one another more important than owning more than everyone else around.

How would we live if we knew that the most beautiful home in all of creation awaits us? If we understood that the place that Jesus had promised that He is preparing for us, is beyond our wildest imaginations, beyond what every eye has seen, or ear has heard of, beyond what has ever entered man’s heart (1 Cor 2:9)? And it is available to all of us who love Him, it has nothing to do with our wealth status here on earth!

Knowing this will give us hope in our circumstances, whatever it may be. The mansion-dweller, who knows that he cannot take anything with him beyond the grave, might stop striving to create an even more luxurious home, realizing that he cannot here on earth achieve what awaits him in Heaven. The homeless person will be comforted in knowing that he will one day be living in unimaginable splendour!

Pearls to ponder:

Read Rev 4; and also, Rev 21:10-27 and start meditating on the great blessings that await us there. Know that in Jesus you are meant to be there, it is your rightful inheritance – and live accordingly.

Heaven is my home