Strangers in a Strange Land - Pt. 2

 

“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.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:1-6 ESV).

 

The picture I’ve attached today is from several years ago. Pictured are two of my brothers standing in front of the grocery store/home I grew up in as a child. It is located in Galveston, Texas. Surprisingly it has been kept up fairly well. It was a two bedroom/one bath structure. There were five of us who lived there. My brothers and I shared one bedroom that had little more than the three single beds and a closet in it. There are many memories associated with this house, good and bad. We worked together in the store where my Dad taught me how to butcher, “just in case.” He believed in a strong work ethic, but wanted me to go to college so that I wouldn’t need to struggle in life. Strangely, it was the education he gave me that allowed me to have so little struggle in life.

 

Mary and I have lived in much bigger homes. We’ve had all the conveniences and luxuries needed in these homes. I think that has made it more difficult to remember none of them were really home. Our reading today was spoken to the disciples just hours before Jesus was arrested and led off to his death. It was intended to encourage and strengthen them in the face of their grief.

 

I am always drawn to the mention of the statement that there are many rooms in the Father’s house being prepared for us. Jesus tells us that his Father has prepared a place for us: we are expected. Though the older translation might make us think of grandiose buildings, we should not minimize the reality Jesus is promising to us. The “rooms,” or “living spaces,” are being prepared by God himself. It seems clear also that Jesus is not simply talking about a dwelling that is being built for us sometime in the future. He speaks of going there, after his death and resurrection, to prepare a place for us. This means that today we can have the joy of knowing that our living space is already prepared, even though we are still on the Christian pilgrim journey in this world. And, he’s going to be the one to take us there. Knowing this gives me the strength to walk through this life’s challenges. That home is worth the trip!