Sunday, September 4, 2016

A Place Prepared for Me

"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?" John 14:2


To me, there's much comfort in knowing I'll be welcomed home. All I have to do is die. No, I don't wish to hasten the journey; I've got work to do until then, good works.

But, the thought of a room being prepared with love and anticipation for my arrival makes any current suffering seem like a light and momentary affliction. Moments of joy and excitement help confirm this.

Fresh sheets, hospital corners turned in, spacious and decorated, natural lighting, desk, books, recliner. Those are elements of an ideal worldly home. I can't imagine what my real home will look like.

Yes, obviously I believe in Christ, the Father, the Spirit, and all that. In fact, I know in my mind and heart His reality is so. His word is precious to me. It's my hope we can discuss these things one day.

In the meantime, it's interesting to witness such diverse reactions to spiritual matters. Some say it's a waste of time, a joke even. Others celebrate Him, and in so many ways. Some are spiritual but not religious. Most accept what others believe, just don't push it on others or even talk about it.

Personally, being a Christian means everything to me. But, I hesitate to use that label. Not that I'm ashamed to believe, but I know the term is so misunderstood, even among Christians. "You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means." (Princess Bride) I wish I could explain what it means to me.

There were times in my life when I'd ask about life, to myself, books, or others. "What does this all mean? Why am I here? Is this life totally random, completely orchestrated down to the most minute detail, or somewhere in between?"

I discovered more sound answers in Scripture, God's word, the Holy Bible, than anywhere else. But to do so, I had to learn to tune out "religious" people.

Many hunger for authority and self-righteousness, and will gladly jump to false conclusions to get it. They turn me off. Jesus hated them. I love Jesus. His words are precious to me. And if He says He went to prepare a place for me, I believe it. Totally. No, He would not have said it otherwise.

And if you are one of the few who believe, rest. To be absent from the body is to be present with Christ. Be assured no rooms will go unoccupied. We have a home and this temporary residence, this tent, ain't it. We are sojourners in a foreign land, citizens of heaven.

Here, on this battlefield, we fight the good fight, contending for the faith, but not against flesh and blood. The enemy is full of lies, distractions and deception, in which so many are ensnared.

We should let ourselves be transformed by the renewal of our minds from His word. His word is truth. This is how we know, in our hearts, our destiny is true.

And we do it out of love, such is pure motivation. We love because He first loved us. We love His thoughts. We love what He has revealed to us, made of us, freely given us. Let us, therefore, love one another. Peace!

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