Preparations

I was a little rushed for my devotions this morning, so I decided just to open my Bible and start reading wherever I happened to be. Now, I am usually much more structured in my devotions and study, so this was not normal for me.

I read only four verses, but they hit me in a way I have never imagined before. John 14:1-4 says, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me, that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” (NIV).

I guess I have been working with children for too long, because I have always imagined that Jesus was up in heaven, working on some celestial building project. After all, he was a carpenter’s son! But if he spoke the world and everything in it into existence (see Genesis chapter one and Psalm 33:6), why would he take 2,000 years to “prepare a place” for us? There must be something else going on.

I thought about this all day. What is Jesus doing up there, to prepare for us? I think there may be several things. First of all, I think he is directing events and guiding the Holy Spirit to influence each of us, individually, in our growth and our relationship with God, so that we will be ready.

Second, Hebrews tells us that he is acting as a priest in our behalf, “…but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him because he always lives to intercede for them.” (Hebrews 7:24, 25, NIV). He hears our prayers and offers us forgiveness and cleansing, and he covers us with his righteousness, so that we will have a place in heaven.

Finally, and most importantly, he is completing his plan to restore order to the universe. “Since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool, because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy,” (Hebrews 10:13, 14, NIV).

So, when I see that Jesus is “preparing a place,” I find that he is not building and planting, cooking and cleaning, as we do to prepare for guests. He is working out the plan of preparing our hearts for eternity with him, preparing all of heaven and the angels to accept us under his righteousness, and he is preparing his final plans to destroy sin forever and bring everlasting peace and joy to the universe. What a preparation!