John 14: 1
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in 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? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going.”
Psalm 90:1
“Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations.”
My husband and I love to travel to England often but, with the pandemic restrictions, we haven’t been for an extended stay in three years. We have just returned from our longest stay yet—seven weeks—and mostly stuck to our habit of staying in cottages or flats for longer periods at fewer locations and making lots of day trips. The result is always better rest, fewer meals out, access to washing machines and, most importantly, unpacked suitcases.
Living out of suitcases is our least favorite part of traveling as one never gets the feeling of being “at home.” It’s important for us to feel at home while away by getting up at the same time, eating the same breakfast—tea and toast—having our tea time break at 4:00pm and even attending church if there is one nearby. The routine does vary on occasion and we are fine with the “serendipities” that come along the way.
Wherever our travels take us, it’s comforting to know that our Heavenly Father is never on vacation. He operates in the same time zone, whatever point on the globe we land.
When I walk through the front door after returning from our travels, I take in the familiarity of “home” and the sense of comfort and security it provides. But, as wonderful as our earthly home is, it is not permanent. God Himself is our permanent dwelling place, our refuge, our safe place, our security, our Home.
Jesus also promises security for us in our heavenly home when we depart from this earth. In our verse today, Jesus comforts us with the promise that there are many rooms in God’s mansion and that Jesus has prepared a place for us there to be our eternal home. I am reminded of what Billy Graham once said, “My home is in Heaven. I’m just traveling through this world.”
Dear Lord, we thank You that in Jesus we are secure and have the confidence in knowing that, as believers, You have provided a forever home for us. We pray for those who live in seemingly happy homes but have no true sense of security. May we point the way to eternal life so that they won’t be homeless when their lives on this earth come to an end. For Your sake, Amen.
