Sermon nuggets Tues Sept 9
Theme: Preparing for Parting
Verses- John 14:1-4 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
3 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.
4 You know the way to the place where I am going."
Jesus Prepares a Place for Us
During the table talk before the cross, Jesus knew the disciples were going to be grief stricken and in sorrow. How do you prepare loved ones for death? Do you tell them not to cry? Do you tell them not to feel badly? I remember one man told his friends he wanted them to have a party and celebration in honor of his passing. But let’s remember that funerals are for the living not the dead. Sometimes the requests and advice we give doesn't really fit the circumstances or those one leaves behind.
Jesus knew they would grieve, but he also knew that He would rise from the dead. Instead of troubled hearts He wanted them to have trusting hearts. He not only wanted to prepare them for that hope, but also the time when he was going to be gone from them from the earth. At the time of the resurrection, Jesus' earthly ministry is done and his heavenly ministry begins. Jesus' work isn't finished, it has been relocated. Jesus' work for our salvation was finished at the cross. His job on earth was to seek and save that which is lost. He had fulfilled all that the Father had given Him to do on the earth, but now our Savior and Lord is preparing for us a place in heaven. He is interceding on our behalf before the Father. Jesus tells them there are many rooms in His Father's house and He is going to prepare for them a place.
The story has been told of a young lady saving her money to see the big city. She went to a fancy hotel. As the Bell hop was taking her to her room, she complained that it was much too small and there were no windows for the view. The man was take back and said, "Ma'am this is the elevator, I will take you to the room prepared for you."
It is a good to remember that this life this isn't the place that Jesus has prepared for us. This is not all that there is. In fact, we cannot imagine the greatness of heaven except in some ways that tickle our fancy. Roads paved with gold. 12 foundations of precious gems.
I realize there are lots of opinions in the book of Revelation as to what is literal and what is figurative. In the type of language used there are many picture images to explain what John found hard to put into words. Whether the streets are gold or God’s way to show the vast difference between what we value will be like dirt in heaven, doesn’t really make a difference. The point is- it will be wonderful beyond our wildest imaginations. Our life here is only a temporary stay to get us to the place Jesus has prepared for us in heaven where there will be no worry of bills, or breakdowns, no worry about meals, or poverty. All that we need is provided.
But of greatest importance is that Jesus is there. Heaven is where Christ is. It isn't the building that makes a home, it is the love of the people who live there. And the doctrine of the Second Coming tells us plainly that He is returning to take us there. He is coming again, are you ready if he were to come today?
Pastor Dale
