I Go To Prepare A Place For You!

Death is something we try to think very little about and yet unless the Lord returns we will all go by the way of the grave. Death carries for most people the fear of what happens next and there is only one source that reveals the truth about life after death and that source is the Bible, Gods word.

Heb 9:27 says “It is appointed unto man once to die and after this the judgment.” Death is something we all must face when our time comes but death need not be fearful for the one who has trusted in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior for He died for our sins according to the scripture, he was buried and on the 3rd day He rose again according to the scriptures.

The Bible is clear on the subject of death and eternal life. In the 5th chapter of Johns gospel Jesus said “search the scriptures for in them you think you have eternal life and these are they which testify of me”

The scripture teaches it is wonderful to do good works but our good works can never earn us a place in heaven. Eph 2:8-9 says “For by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourself it is the gift of God, not of works lest any man should boast”.

Everyone has to answer for themselves before God and it is not my place nor yours to judge. The Bible does say it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God and we should be prepared to meet God in this lifetime and not wait before it’s too late.

John 14:1-6 “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.

Of all the passages of Scripture, of all the words of encouragement that Jesus gave, of all verses that lend comfort to the human heart this passage is one of the most beloved!

It is one of the most beloved because it gives the believer hope. Not only the hope of Christ return, not only the hope of heaven and everlasting life but the hope of peace and comfort for those who are going through times of trouble.

Psalm 46:1 says “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”

I like to think that Jesus had that Psalm in mind when He spoke these words to His disciples for He begins by saying “ Let not your heart be troubled”. Jesus doesn’t deny that trouble exist, He doesn’t say we should attempt to escape the reality that sometimes life is hard rather He gives reasons why we should take comfort.

The context of this passage is as follows, Jesus has been telling His disciples that He must leave them. He had told them on several occasions that He would be betrayed, arrest, tried and put to death. The disciples either didn’t believe or understand how this could possibly happen. Jesus was the Messiah! He was the Son of God, the Savior of Israel and indeed the Savior of all men from every tribe, tongue and nation! How could he be arrested and put to death? He was the King of Kings, He was to rule and reign a kingdom without end.

There were so many things His followers didn’t understand, for at this point they didn’t understand that Jesus had to die as an atonement for sin. They didn’t understand when He spoke of His departure into heaven where He would be seated at the right hand of God the Father. They didn’t understand that He would send the Holy Spirit to be their comforter, their guide and their helper. They didn’t understand all these things yet Jesus gives them one simple instruction “you believe in God, believe also in Me”.

Do you believe in God? Do you believe that Jesus is Gods only begotten Son? If not where do you place your trust? In yourself? In others? Where do you place your trust if not in God? If one says there is no God, no everlasting life on what basis do you have hope? Hope for what? If there is no God all man has is this: To eat, drink and be merry for tomorrow you die.