What Do You Look Forward To?

“Let not your heart be troubled; you 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.  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know.”

Thomas said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?”

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.  John 14:1-6

My husband and I were talking last night about our doves.  He read where doves don’t build big sturdy nests.  They stick a twig here and a twig there and they’re done.  Remember our first doves, Gladys Knight and the Pips.  Her nest literally fell apart in a big wind so I helped her rebuild, but she didn’t much appreciate my efforts. 

We spend a lot of time, effort and money on our homes don’t we.  We install marble countertops, wood floors, stainless steel fixtures, double paned windows and too many others to name.  Our home is where we live so we put a lot of effort in making it comfortable and safe. 

Have you ever thought about what your home in heaven will be like?  God created the earth and heavens, light and darkness, land and water, every living thing and then he created man and woman in His image.  We are created in His image.  If you think about it, earth is not God’s home; heaven is.  He created heaven as a dwelling place for us to live with Him.  What do you think it will look like?  The Bible gives us some idea of what it will be like.  Too many times I think we focus our thoughts and energy on this earth and we forget to look forward to what heaven will be like. 

Jesus told his disciples in John 14:2 that “In my Father’s house are many mansions…and I go to prepare a place for you.”  The definition of mansion is a large and impressive house.  I’ll admit, I have a hard time picturing heaven.  Why?  I think it is because God created such incredible things here on earth that we see every day and take for granted.  How can we imagine something that is bigger and better than what we have here?  I think it is because we think small.  If you think of streets paved with gold, walls made of jasper, foundations adorned with precious stones and the gates made of twelve pearls it is kind of hard to imagine.  A gate made of a single pearl.  That’s some pretty big pearls! 

Maybe the problem is, if it was up to us to create it; it would be impossible.  Those who believe in Him can choose to live forever in the most amazing mansion ever created.  What do you look forward to?  Are you looking forward to heaven?  I am. 

Prayer for the Day: Heavenly Father, You created a place called heaven that will be our dwelling place if we choose to follow You.  I look forward to seeing the pearly gates and streets made of gold.  But, most of all, I look forward to spending time with You.  Thank You for preparing a place for us where sickness and pain no longer exist.  Remind me of this place when I get discouraged with this earthly life.  Knowing there is a better place waiting gives me strength.

      

Scripture: Now the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. And he who talked with me had a gold reed to measure the city, its gates, and its wall. The city is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth. And he measured the city with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel. The construction of its wall was of jasper; and the city was pure gold, like clear glass. The foundations of the wall of the city were adorned with all kinds of precious stones: the first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third chalcedony, the fourth emerald, the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.  Revelation 21:14-21