I Will Come Again

John 14:1-4.

Let not your heart be troubled: ye 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 unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

We don’t know what heaven looks like. We have only artist’s renderings, which are fun to look at, but I don’t believe any of them even come close to what awaits us there. We know what the book of Revelation has to say about streets of gold and pearly gates, but we don’t really have an accurate vision of heaven itself. My husband, who grew up in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, loves the outdoors. He says he’d much rather have a tent in the woods than to live in a fancy house. And maybe that’s exactly what God has prepared for him.

This passage is perhaps one of the most well-known in all of the Bible. “Let not your heart be troubled” has become the well-used motto of a well-known radio personality. But I don’t think Jesus was speaking of politics. In fact, I’m sure He wasn’t. He was speaking of the disciples, and how they would deal with His leaving them alone after having spent three years walking with them every single day. “Don’t worry,” He said. “I know you believe in God; you also must believe in Me, that I will provide for you and take care of you!”

Jesus’ command that they not allow their hearts to be troubled, worried, fearful, was actually an imperative. He could have said, “This is an order; pay attention! Don’t worry! Don’t forget Who I am, and don’t allow fear to consume you.”

Then He makes them, and us, a wonderful promise: “In My Father’s house there are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”

Mansions? Everybody gets their own personal mansion? Well, it IS heaven, and it IS God! He can do whatever He chooses. One of my sources says that the word used for mansions here could be just as accurately translated as dwelling places. Some translations use the word rooms. In any event, there will be a place for every soul that has ever believed and accepted Jesus Christ. A tent, a room, a mansion–a dwelling place. I like to think that God will give us exactly what fits our desires. I think my place will be filled with teapots, endless varieties of tea, gorgeous dolls beyond counting, and books that never end. And music. Lots of it. My arthritic hands, which will then be perfect, will play easily on my heavenly piano 🙂

Won’t we be spending all of eternity just worshipping God? Yes, of course. But the fact that Jesus mentions dwelling places tells me that there is much to enjoy in God’s plan for us in heaven. It will be infinite, after all.

The best part of Jesus’ promise, of course, is that if He is going to go and prepare a place for us, then He will come back to get us and take us there. He will take us unto Himself, to be with Him forever. So don’t worry!

“After all,” said Jesus, “You really do know where I am going, and you also know the way. It’s just not your time yet. There is work for you to do.” (My own words)