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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. These verses from John 14:1 hold two memories for me - one was some 20 odd ears ago when I went to a Saturday night meeting feeling far from the Lord because of events that had happened in my life and even though I knew I was saved I felt so down and not even sure that night whether I'd go to heaven or not.
At the meeting while in prayer I asked the Lord that very question "will I be in heaven Lord"? A man some rows behind started to sing in the spirit "In my father's house are many mansions, in my father's house are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you, I will go away and come again"
What an answer! I have not heard that sung since nor had I heard it before that night but it reassured me that the Lord does listen to our prayers and it's not about what I do that gets me to heaven, it's about what my Saviour Jesus Christ did at calvary. His death secured a place for me and all I needed to was turn to him in repentance.
My second memory is when I read this passage at my dad's funeral: Mam had asked me to say something after Dad died and to be honest I could have written a book about my Dad but I went to another book, The Bible and after a lot of prayer vs 1-6 are what I believed the Lord wanted me to talk about. Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
I didn't really have to speak much as these verses said it all. I was honest and said I didn't really know where my dad was, but that I did know a God who did and that I had such a peace knowing He was in control, comforting and getting us all through this sad time. My heart says Dad is with the Lord because Jesus died for him too.
I can see much of God's goodness and mercy in these verses. Despite my sinful nature my Lord died for me and even prepares a mansion for me - no 2 up 2 down, no flat or maisonette, no bungalow, terrace, semi or detached house but a mansion. Endless and bountiful provision even at the last day.
To be with Lord is going to be far better than anything this life has to offer. Despite my failings, my fearfulness, my Lord is providing a home for me, eternal in the heavens, where I will dwell with him, free from all pain, stress, fear - what a wonderful Father who provides for his children.
Those who know our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I am sure will say an Amen to that.
But if you do not know the bountiful provision of a loving heavenly Father, the sacrificial love that sent a beloved son into a darkened world, to be the light of that world and who died a cruel death, nailed to a cross at Calvary to pay the price for our sin then my prayer is that you would read the Holy scriptures to see who and what this man did. The Lord Jesus Christ opened up a way for us to be reconciled to God the Father, by dying in our place. He is the light of the world. His words "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me" are as true today as they were 2000 years ago. He asks only that you repent of your sin and follow him. I would ask you to do that today.
JESUS CHRIST THE LIVING WORD IS THE ONLY HOPE FOR A DYING WORLD
At the meeting while in prayer I asked the Lord that very question "will I be in heaven Lord"? A man some rows behind started to sing in the spirit "In my father's house are many mansions, in my father's house are many rooms, if it were not so I would have told you, I will go away and come again"
What an answer! I have not heard that sung since nor had I heard it before that night but it reassured me that the Lord does listen to our prayers and it's not about what I do that gets me to heaven, it's about what my Saviour Jesus Christ did at calvary. His death secured a place for me and all I needed to was turn to him in repentance.
My second memory is when I read this passage at my dad's funeral: Mam had asked me to say something after Dad died and to be honest I could have written a book about my Dad but I went to another book, The Bible and after a lot of prayer vs 1-6 are what I believed the Lord wanted me to talk about. Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
I didn't really have to speak much as these verses said it all. I was honest and said I didn't really know where my dad was, but that I did know a God who did and that I had such a peace knowing He was in control, comforting and getting us all through this sad time. My heart says Dad is with the Lord because Jesus died for him too.
I can see much of God's goodness and mercy in these verses. Despite my sinful nature my Lord died for me and even prepares a mansion for me - no 2 up 2 down, no flat or maisonette, no bungalow, terrace, semi or detached house but a mansion. Endless and bountiful provision even at the last day.
To be with Lord is going to be far better than anything this life has to offer. Despite my failings, my fearfulness, my Lord is providing a home for me, eternal in the heavens, where I will dwell with him, free from all pain, stress, fear - what a wonderful Father who provides for his children.
Those who know our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, I am sure will say an Amen to that.
But if you do not know the bountiful provision of a loving heavenly Father, the sacrificial love that sent a beloved son into a darkened world, to be the light of that world and who died a cruel death, nailed to a cross at Calvary to pay the price for our sin then my prayer is that you would read the Holy scriptures to see who and what this man did. The Lord Jesus Christ opened up a way for us to be reconciled to God the Father, by dying in our place. He is the light of the world. His words "I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father but by me" are as true today as they were 2000 years ago. He asks only that you repent of your sin and follow him. I would ask you to do that today.
JESUS CHRIST THE LIVING WORD IS THE ONLY HOPE FOR A DYING WORLD
