What a blessing it was for us to gather once again in the house of God. We are thankful for the spirit of worship that filled the room, from our back-to-back Bible studies to the evening service. It is a joy to see the children of God met together for one purpose: to glorify the darling name of the Son of God with everything we say and do.
In John 14, we find one of the most comforting promises in all of Scripture. Jesus tells us, “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.”
1. A Place Better Than Any Earthly Home
We are all thankful for the roofs over our heads today. Whether it’s a house built by men or a humble place to lay our heads, we recognize that God is the one who enables us to have it. He is in our business 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, providing for our needs and our transportation. But as wonderful as our earthly homes are, they can be taken away.
Many of us remember the heartbreak of losing a home—like the haunting feeling of walking through the rooms of a house that has burned to the ground. We recall the joy of finally stepping into a new place, even if we had to sleep on a pallet on the floor the first night. But even the best house on earth is imperfect. It has bugs, it has snakes, and it eventually decays. The place Jesus is preparing for us is perfect. There will be no darkness, no pests, and a perfect temperature forever.
2. A Reservation That is Already Signed
When we travel, we often reserve a room ahead of time so we know there is a bed waiting for us after a long journey. As Christians, we have a reservation in Heaven that is already signed. The Bible says our place is reserved in Heaven for us.
We may not live in mansions here on earth—most of us are just looking for a place to hang our hats for the years we have left—but in Glory, we are promised something far greater. Whether you visualize it as a mansion or a “little cabin in the corner of Glory Land,” we can be satisfied knowing it is in the presence of God.
3. The Fear of God and Our Eternal Inheritance
In Psalm 31:19, we read, “Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee.” This is a serious word for us to consider. The goodness of Heaven is laid up specifically for those who fear God.
This isn’t a fear that makes us shudder like we’re facing a monster; it is a deep reverence and respect for who He is. Just as a child obeys their parents out of love and a healthy fear of discipline, we walk the line for God because we know He is our Father. If there is no fear of God in a person’s life, we must ask if they are truly His child. God disciplines those He receives. If we are without that correction, the Bible uses strong language to say we aren’t truly sons.
4. A Land Where We’ll Never Grow Old
We look forward to that day when we take our last breath and “explode” into Glory with the Holy Ghost. We will see our loved ones again—our mothers, fathers, and grandfathers who served the Lord in the old country churches.
We won’t know the full beauty of it until we get there, for “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard… the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” But we can rest tonight knowing that the Creator of the universe has us in mind, building a place where we will live forever.