Sermon Central
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Mansion Or Pup Tent?
Contributed by Dr. Ronald Shultz on Aug 11, 2013 (message contributor)
Summary: The house isn Heaven is in good shape, but how is the temple here looking?
John 14:2 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. KJV
I once got into a bit of trouble because I suggested that these mansions are not of the antebellum Tara type, but possibly just a prayer closet where we can be alone with God as He calls us the name on the white stone that only He and we know. When you consider that the mansion in the father’s house back in the day was maybe just an added room or two, why would we have nineteen thousand square feet and thirty-six rooms like the Belmont in Nashville?
We will need no bedrooms, kitchens or bathrooms. No need even for a curio room as anything we want to see again we cam just zip back to it no matter what part of the universe it is in. We have the universe to entertain friends in so there goes that need. If you look at the New Jerusalem’s description it sounds more like a high-rise apartment building.
Heaven for me is all about being able to serve Him perfectly without the world, the flesh or the devil to distract or hinder me. To know His love in its fullness and to love Him more than I ever have here and to bask in His presence and glory means more to me than pearly gates, a street of gold or if the mansion makes the Belmont look like a shack or if I get a pup tent or prayer closet.
1 Cor 2:9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. KJV
That being true, then let us be content to know that God has prepared a place for us that will be so awesome that we may actually be insulting Him by trying to compare it to Tara or the Belmont. Instead of worrying about what He is building for us there maybe we should be more concerned about the house we are building in our souls. Is it made of wood, hay and stubble or gold, silver and precious stones? Since we are His temple does the Holy Spirit feel comfortable in us? Do we allow Him to choose the furnishings and the arrangement of the temple? If not, we have made a shack out what He ordained to be a temple. Does the Holy Spirit have to dwell in a place furnished and decorated more like a bar or brothel instead of a temple?
He is building for us there and He wants to build us here. Shall we let the Master Builder ply His trade? Maranatha!
