1-TRUST IN MY PRESENCE
2-TRUST MY PROMISES
God gave many promises both in the Old & the New Testaments. He promised the
children of Israel a land where there would be milk & honey. That was fulfilled!
He promised a Messiah, that too, was fulfilled.
Jesus the Savior was born.
Now God promises that He is coming back for us. Someday we’ll be with Him
forever & ever.
The Bible uses a lot of different words to describe heaven.
In one place it is called "a country" indicating the vastness of heaven.
In another it is called "a city" indicating the number of inhabitants.
It is called "a kingdom" indicating that there is a governmental structure to it all.
It is called "paradise" indicating its beauty & desirability.
But here it is called, "My Father’s house," & that is another way of saying, "It is home."
Home is a place where you can be yourself. Home is where you can take kick off your shoes. Home is where you can say what you are thinking.
Home is where you’re always accepted & loved. You’re not just a guest. You are a resident. You live there. That is home.
Jesus is saying, "I’m going to take you to My Father’s house, & it will be your
home, too. You’ll be a part of the family. You’ll be home where you belong."
In My Father’s house are many rooms…many mansions…dwelling place.
You see, the word that Jesus used comes from the eastern custom that when a son grows up & gets married, he brings his bride back home again. And the father adds another room onto His house for them. Then when another son grows up & gets married, they add another room. The house just keeps getting bigger & bigger, as the family stays together.
Just think about it. Most of me is already there. My name is written there. My
citizenship is there. My God is there. My Savior is there. My inheritance is
there. I’ve got friends and family are there. So much of me, so much of who I am is already there.
1 Corinthians 2:9-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
There won’t be no heartache, loneliness, depression, sadness, sickness, death!
3-TRUST MY GUIDANCE
In verse’s 4-6 Jesus says, "`You know the way to the place where I am going.’
Thomas said to Him, `Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, `I am the way & the truth & the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’"
A story is told of a missionary traveling to a remote village to train leaders of the local church. A guide was selected to take him to the village because the only way to reach this remote place was to walk through the jungle. The journey started out without much of a problem; the path was good and easy to follow. Soon, however, the path literally disappeared as the guide cut away at the overgrown jungle with his machete. The missionary grew concerned and asked,
“Where is the path?”” The guide smiled; looking back he told the missionary, “I
am the path.”
What a wonderful promise! He is saying, "I’m not just going to show you the way,
or tell you the way, or write out the instructions on how to get there. I’m
going to come & take you by the hand to My Father’s house. Then you’ll be home."
Dave Galloway told of a soldier who had just returned from Viet Nam. His
parents were socialites, very well-to-do. It was near Christmas, and they were
getting ready to go out to the first of the round of parties of the Christmas
season.
Just then the phone rang, & it was their son on the phone. "Mom," he said, "I’m
back in the States." She said, "That’s wonderful! Where are you? Will you be
home for Christmas? Can you get here in time for the parties? Everybody will
just love to see you."
He answered, "Yes, I can be home for Christmas, but I want to ask you something
first." "What is it?" she asked. "Well, I have a friend with me from Viet Nam.
Can he come?"
"Oh, of course," she answered. "Bring him along. He’ll enjoy the parties, too."
"Wait a moment, mom," he said, "I need to explain something about him. He was
terribly wounded, & lost both legs & one arm. His face is disfigured, too."
There was silence on the phone for awhile. Then the mother said, "That’s all
right. Bring him home for a few days." "No, mom, you don’t understand. He has
nowhere to live. He has no one else. I want to bring him home & to let our home
be his home."
The mother was quiet again. Then she said, "Son, that just wouldn’t do. What
you’re asking would be very unfair to us. Why, it would disrupt all our lives.
I’m sure there are government agencies that would be more than glad to take
charge of him. Look, just you hurry home for Christmas now, & then maybe you can
visit him once in a while."
"Darling, I’m sorry, but we’ve got to rush or we’ll be late for the party. Call
us again as soon as you know when you’ll be home. Goodbye."
When the parents returned home from the party that night, there was an urgent
message from the California police asking them to call. They telephoned, & the
officer said, "I’m very sorry to have to call you, but we just found a young
soldier dead in a motel room. His face is disfigured, & he has lost both legs &
one arm. From the documents on him it would appear that he is your son."
