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 to 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 room for her.
Yet, reading this Scripture daily brought up many questions and images for me over those next two weeks. Will everyone have a room? Will there be a room for me? Am I good enough? Have I lived for Jesus as my mother had?
FISH OUT OF WATER
Has there been a time when you wanted to attend an event, activity, or group, but you just felt like you would not fit in? Maybe you felt you didn’t belong or weren’t good enough. All of us have had those kinds of experiences where we feel like we are out of place, or far from perfect. 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.
Life Groups are a big deal at The Cove Church. For years I have heard the push for community, doing life together, and joining a Life Group, and yet I continued to decline and pretty much outright refused to join a group. I would say that Life Group was just not for me; I just didn’t believe in all of that. Interpretation: “I don’t think I am good enough or that I will fit in, and I am not comfortable around people.”
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; no one is good enough. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, we see that He reached out to those who “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. He was offering a gift and showing us how to invite others.
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: Think about the times that you gave in and attended that event, activity, or group you had been putting off. What made the difference between not going or attending, and the decision to see past the thinking that you didn’t fit in? Was it an invite from a friend or even a stranger? Someone who took the time to welcome you and make you feel like you belonged? Or was it many invitations before you finally stepped out of your comfort zone?
Jesus is inviting you to join Him in Heaven for eternity and He is wanting you to invite others. There are plenty of rooms waiting to be filled. You never know: you could accept an invitation and find that you really do fit, whether in a Life Group or serving team. Or better yet, you could be the one offering the invitation, the one which your friend or neighbor finally accepts. The one that could lead to a room waiting for them in Heaven.
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: Isaiah 54:6; Romans 3:23; 2 Corinthians 5:12; Philippians 3:9
Weekly Memory Verse: “One of the two who heard John speak and followed Jesus was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, ‘We have found the Messiah’ (which means Christ). He brought him to Jesus.” John 1:40-42a, ESV