“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  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” (John 14:2-3).

What was your childhood home like? Was it a ranch style in a suburban neighborhood with kids playing on the streets until dark? Or was it a city apartment where there was the constant din of cars honking and sirens wailing? Or did you grow up in the country with lots of land to explore? 

Childhood memories can be sweet, bitter, or a combination of both. But whatever our memories of our past, because of the promises of Jesus, we can hope for our future.

In our passage this week, we read about Jesus preparing His disciples for His imminent departure from this earth. He was leaving them, but not without a promise. He assured them (and us) that He will not leave them alone. He will send them “another Advocate” in the person of the Holy Spirit (we read more about this a bit later in the chapter). 

He also told them that He would go and prepare a place for them (and us) in His Father’s house. An eternal home, dwelling in the presence of the Almighty. And he promised to come back for us!

Memories from our past – or the realities of our present – can sometimes cause us to forget the future hope we have in Jesus. But we can practice living into that future hope by being “at home” with Him in the here and now. We do this by getting to know Him as we read His Word and conversing with Him through prayer. We can develop friendships with other Jesus followers who can help remind us of our future home with Jesus when we begin to wander. We are encouraged to be a part of a local church where we gather on Sunday morning for worship and the preaching of the Word.

As we wait in hope, He wants us to let go of what is familiar and follow Him.

God has something far better planned for us than anything we have ever experienced. A home big enough for every one of His sons and daughters to dwell. Because of Jesus’ work on the cross and our choice to follow Him, we have a standing invitation to come and stay at the Father’s house – for eternity.

Lord, thank you for the good future you have promised!  Please teach us to make ourselves more and more at home in you, rather than clinging to what is familiar and comfortable.