KEY SCRIPTURE: John 14:2 KJV” 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.”

Jesus was consoling his disciples, who were affected with grief at the idea of his separation. To comfort them he addresses them in this language: “The universe is the dwelling-place of my Father. All is his house. Whether on earth or in heaven, we are still in his habitation.

In that vast abode of God there are many mansions. The earth is one of them, heaven is another. Whether here or there, we are still in the house, in one of the mansions of our Father, in one of the apartments of his vast abode. This we ought continually to feel, and to rejoice that we are permitted to occupy any part of his dwelling-place. Nor does it differ much whether we are in this mansion or another. It should not be a matter of grief when we are called to pass from one part of this vast habitation of God to another.

 I am indeed about to leave you, but I am going only to another part of the vast dwelling place of God. I shall still be in the same universal habitation with you; still in the house of the same God; and am going for an important purpose – to fit up another abode for your eternal dwelling.” If this is the meaning, then there is in the discourse true consolation. We see that the death of a Christian is not to be dreaded, nor is it an event over which we should immoderately weep. It is but removing from one apartment of God’s universal dwelling place to another – one where we shall still be in his house, and still feel the same interest in all that pertains to his kingdom. And especially the removal of the Saviour from the earth was an event over which Christians should rejoice, for he is still in the house of God, and still preparing mansions of rest for His people.

He added, if it was not so, I would have told you. By this He was saying , I have concealed from you no truth. You have been cherishing this hope of a future abode with God. Had it been ill founded I would have told you plainly, as I have told you other things. Had any of you been deceived, as Judas was, I would have made it known to you, as I did to him.”

THOUGHT: THE CHRISTIAN’S ABODE WHETHER HERE OR IN HEAVEN, ARE ALL IN THE PRESENCE OF THE FATHER, ALTHOUGH IN HEAVEN, WE GET INTO THE PHYSICAL PRESENCE OF THE FATHER.

FURTHER STUDIES

2Corinth 5:8 KJV” We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”

2Corinth 5:2 KJV For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven: