“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” (John 14: 1-3, NKJV).
Dear Lord, it is wonderful to know that You are coming back for us. May we rejoice this day in that hope. Amen
Today, we are looking at what I believe many of you will agree with me, is, “the promise of all promises,” that of Jesus’ return to earth to take us home with Him! This has been the hope of the followers of Christ from times immemorial. Perhaps not from the exact perspective of Christians in the Twenty-first century, or even Christians in the First century. I do not believe our first parents would have understood Christ’s return to this earth the way we do; perhaps not even the way Paul, or John, or any of the early Christians, understood it. What I do believe is that they would have cherished the hope that God would make things over anew, and that they would be a part of it!
From Faith’s “Hall of Fame” we read the following, “These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland…But now they desire a better, that is a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them” (Hebrews 11: 13, 14, 16).
There are several clues that the homeland that these saints of old were expecting was not to be found on this earth; that is, it was not an earthly country. Let us look at some of these phrases:
“…[H]aving seen them afar off (the promises) were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth.” Our heroes in Faith’s “Hall of Fame” knew that this world was not their home, they were just “passing through.” They were looking forward to something beyond earth.
“But now they desire a better, that is a heavenly country.” There comes a time in the life of the Christian when an earthly Canaan is just not good enough. The “good times” on earth, come to an end. But in God’s tomorrow, our joy will be an everlasting joy! They desire something “better.” According to Isaiah 35: 10, (this chapter speaks of the earth in its restored state), “And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” It was the desire of God that His people would have begun to enjoy the “healing of the land” here on earth, by their obedience to His laws and statutes, but because they were stiff-necked, this did not come to pass. Many of these promises will find their fulfillment at Christ’s return.
“Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.” John saw that city, and tried his best to describe it. But because his earthly vocabulary was insufficient, I recommend that you make an appointment to be there to see it for yourself. Jesus said, “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.” God keeps His promises, remember? He said He would come back, and He is coming back, and will be looking for you. Please do not disappoint Him. Blessings!
In the weeks to come we will be looking at different aspects of this promise.