JESUS IS WAITING
Denise Linton
Today's Scripture: "In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?." John 14:2, ESV
Theme: Heaven is not exclusive; there is plenty of room for everyone.
BUT IS THERE A ROOM FOR ME?
Today’s scripture has such a personal meaning for me. During the two weeks that my mother was in hospice and unresponsive, this is one of the scriptures I would read out loud to her several times a day. I knew that it would be just a matter of time before she was in God’s presence. I wanted to reassure her that she had a place in His house, because in Jesus’ own words, “if it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” My mother was an amazing woman who lived her life for Jesus and was a good, faithful servant until the end. I had no doubt there was a room for her.
Yet, reading this scripture daily brought up many questions and images for me over the next two weeks. Will everyone have a room? Is there a room for me? Will I fit in? Have I lived a life for Jesus like my mother had lived? Am I good enough?
FISH OUT OF WATER
Have you ever been somewhere that you felt you didn’t belong or didn’t fit in? This is a feeling I struggle with in different settings, but especially when I am at church or church events. This may come as a shock since I try to be very involved by serving and writing devotions. However, since one of The Cove’s core values is “We keep it real,” I decided to share this secret.
All of us have had those kinds of experiences where we feel like we are out of place. Maybe you feel the same way in a church setting. You are thinking, “Is there anyone here like me?” or “Do I really belong?” When we feel like we don’t fit in, it usually comes from the notion that we haven’t earned it, or we aren’t good enough. We carry this feeling of unworthiness over to our understanding of eternity. We assume the qualification for entrance into heaven is our own merit. Every other religion in the world presents its own unique method of gaining merit for the afterlife, because that is human nature to try to earn our way into bliss. They all present a do-it-yourself way to a heavenly afterlife, except for one, and that is where Jesus comes in.
PREPARING A PLACE
Heaven is not limited to those who know all the Scriptures in the Bible, show up for every Sunday service, are completely comfortable in the church setting, or do everything right. All our attempts to do the right things will still fail. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23, NKJV). If you think about it, no one really fits into Heaven or is good enough. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we see that He reached out to the those that “didn’t fit in,” or those who were shunned by the religious leaders. He continued to invite them to be with Him for meals, healing, and teaching. They did nothing to earn His presence.
Jesus is preparing a room for everyone and there is plenty of room. But there is only one way and that is through Jesus. “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NLT).
Make it Personal: Have you wondered if you really have a room in God’s house? Have you been wondering if you would fit in or were good enough? If you have struggled with this question, lean on Philippians 3:9: “Now that I belong to Christ, I am right with God, and this being right does not come from following the law {my merits}. It comes from God through faith. God uses my faith in Christ to make me right with him" (NCV). If you have not yet accepted Christ as your personal Savior because you have been waiting to be good enough or feel like you fit in, you are relying on your own merits. Jesus is preparing a room for YOU! All you need to do is have faith in Christ.
Pray: Dear God, Thank you for preparing a place for me. I trust that you have room for all. Thank you for teaching me that I’m saved by faith and not by my own merit. You are my provider and I trust in You. Your greatness exceeds my understanding. Though I have questions about heaven I believe you when you say “I have prepared a place” and I look forward to seeing it someday. Thank you for the gift of salvation that I could never earn. In Jesus’ name, Amen
Read: Isiah 54:6; Romans 3:23; 2 Corinthians 5:12; Philippians 3:9
Weekly Memory Verse: “Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’” John 14:6, ESV