Jesus Has Prepared A Place 4U

Do you remember going to Grandma’s? If not Grandma, then perhaps it was another relative or friend’s house. Is there someone you longed to visit; someone you knew would be waiting for you. You knew they would have the house ready, for you. Perhaps there would be cookies baked, for you. If you were really blessed you may have even had a room that was your very own. And you knew it would all be there, ready and waiting, just for you. There’s nothing like knowing that someone cares enough to get ready for you; prepare for you; do something special just for you.

Perhaps you have read it so much, on this website, that you have almost got used to hearing that Jesus does things just for you. But we should never grow weary of hearing that our Savior’s love is personal. Should a wife ever tire of hearing her husband say "I love you?" Should a child ever tell his parents he doesn’t want them to say he’s special or loved?

Today, Jesus tells us that He has gone to prepare a place for us; a place in His Father’s house. We may wonder why He had to go. Couldn’t the preparation be done with a word or two, as His Father had done when creating the world? It is a question beyond the realm of our understanding. The fact is He said He was going, and that’s where He is, right now; sitting at His Father’s right hand. We we'll leave being God to God—letting that which is beyond our comprehension remain a mystery, while knowing that the One carrying it out has chosen to tell us what we need to know.

So what do we need to know about our Father’s house? There’s plenty of room! And it’s personal. For what Jesus told His first disciples certainly applies to all who have followed in their train. If He has gone to prepare a place for them He has gone to prepare a place for us. And there are many rooms in His Father’s mansion.You may be aware that translating John 14:2 is a little bit of a challenge. Some translations say there are many rooms in the Father’s house. Others say there are many mansions in the house. Some even say there are many rooms in the mansion. Why would Jesus use confusing language when speaking of heaven? Perhaps He wanted to paint a picture that is close to the reality we will experience at the resurrection—a picture of a big house with plenty of space; a mansion with many mansion-like rooms in it.

Perhaps you recall the technical term for how many people Jesus saved when He died on the cross: unlimited atonement. Truly, He was the Lamb of God Who took away the sins of the entire world. There has to be plenty of room in heaven, because there will be plenty of people saved by grace, through faith. Only four short verses after this one, Jesus tells us that He is "the way, the truth, and the life" (John 14:6).  Everyone who enters His Father’s house will do so by Him; through Him. If anyone wants eternal life it’s free for the giving. God will grant it to all who trust in Jesus for their righteousness. And despite the fact that the way is narrow, there will no doubt be thousands upon thousands of believers in the Father’s house.

Heaven’s a gift, given freely by the One Who purchased it with His blood. But what of those who will not receive the gift?  I’m recalling a somewhat humorous story that might help us see the tragic nature of what happens . . . It was our tenth anniversary. I had remembered the room number for ten years: 939. It seemed odd, because I knew the hotel did not have nine floors. It was an older building but a very nice one. In fact, it was a major chain of hotels that has a good reputation in the U.S.A.

We had stayed in that room the night of our honeymoon. My wife worked for a hotel management company, so we received the room at a very special rate; very special. In fact, her bosses had been quite pleased to make the arrangements for our first night as man and wife. When we arrived in the room, however, we were not extremely overwhelmed. It was nice enough. But it didn’t seem to be anything spectacular. In fact, we weren’t really sure why they asked us to move across the hall the second night.

Now, ten years later, the pieces of the puzzle would come together. I explained to the desk clerk that I had made a reservation for a different room, because the one I wanted was already occupied, when I had called the first time. I said that I would like to know if there was any chance that the room had come available. I said, "You do have a room numbered 939, even though there are only three floors, don’t you?" He said, "Yes, sir, we do." I said, "Then I know that’s the room we stayed in, ten years ago. Can you please give me the rate?" I said. "Sir, I’m not sure that you want the rate for that room," he said. "It’s the honeymoon suite."

I don’t remember the exact amount he finally gave me. It was several hundred dollars. And he was right. As a pastor, I couldn’t really afford a room that costs several hundred dollars for one night. But I was still confused. Finally, my wife and I pieced together what must have happened: Remember that we were asked to move to a different room, after the first night of our honeymoon. It dawned on us, now, that the fruit and wine basket my wife’s bosses had sent for us showed up in that room, the next day, when we switched. We began to ask ourselves why? Then, we both recalled that we had arrived rather late in the evening and hadn’t spent a whole lot of time exploring the room. But we did remember that there was a door we never opened. All we can imagine, now, is behind that door was the fruit and wine basket and the rest of the honeymoon suite! No wonder the room hadn’t seemed to be anything special. We never saw the whole room! (And I had not forgotten the room number, after ten years of reminding myself. Room 939 was the honeymoon suite!)

Can you imagine? Not experiencing all that had been prepared for us? It was humorous, but also a little annoying. We had missed out on the surprise and joy my wife’s employers had prepared for us. And yes, it was because we were too tired to explore.

The rooms (the) Christ has prepared for His brothers and sisters will likely be much more impressive than that suite was, but some people will not get to enter. They will not be able to pay the price, for it will be too late. For "it is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment . . . (Hebrews 9:27). How tragic it is that some people will not get to enter the "Father’s house." It is not because they don’t deserve it and others do. It is rather that no one deserves it but some will still reject it. 

Heaven is a free gift, given to all who believe that Jesus is "the Christ, the Son of the Living God" (Matthew 16:16). You don’t have to earn it. You don’t have to find Jesus. He found you (or you wouldn’t be reading this web site)! We will not be asking you to "make a decision to accept Christ into your life;" only informing you that Jesus has already done all that is necessary for your salvation. For in your lost condition, as a sinner of massive proportions (like all of us) He came "to seek and save the lost" (Luke 19:10). Still, for some reason, the Lord has allowed humans the ability to reject the free gift. It is possible to resist the Holy Spirit’s work. Those who do will lose more than one night’s stay in a luxurious room. They’ll lose eternity in "the Father’s house."

But not you, oh saved one! As you ponder the sacrifice Jesus made on the cross, taking all your sins on His shoulders and "trading" His righteousness for your wretchedness do not tarry too long in guilt. For it was the "joy that was set before" Him that Jesus endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). Yes, the gift cost Him greatly! Indeed, He had to suffer hell itself by being abandoned by the Father. For His Father could not bear the stench of our sins. And, at that moment, Jesus stunk to the high heaven. So His Father turned His back on Him, abandoning Him to a "hell" like no other. For there is no greater torment than to be separated from the Father’s love.

As you know, Jesus did all that for you! He not only had to. He wanted to. But He did it in order to earn a room in His Father’s mansion for you; a mansion-like room in the "mansion" of heaven.

Will that room be personalized? What will it look like? We need not know. There is still much about heaven that is a mystery. But we do know that heaven is, at the same time, both vast and personal. And we do know that Jesus will come to take us to be with Him and His Father on that great and glorious day when He restores creation to its original pristine and perfect condition.

Will I ever go back and pay for the honeymoon suite at that hotel?  Maybe. Perhaps on our twenty-fifth anniversary I’ll splurge, in order to experience what we missed out on. But probably not! For there are much greater things awaiting all of us who are in Christ, and my wife and I can live with missing out on that one night in that great room. It’s really not a big deal.  Ah, but heaven is! Don’t miss out on it, dear friend in Christ. I trust you won’t, for you know "the way, the truth, and the life," (John 14:6)  Jesus Christ. AMEN