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 (Jn 14:3).
We have walked through the story of God together this season, recalling all the things God prepared for the coming of His Son. We began at Creation, where God prepared a place to dwell with His “firstborn” children in Eden’s garden.
We considered the instructions God gave His chosen people to prepare the tabernacle, in order to tabernacle with them, as they made their way to the land promised. A land, with the finest of fruits, prepared by His grace. A place where they could thrive and prosper and bring glory to His name.
There came a time in history when God allowed King Solomon to build a temple. A place where He would dwell among them and they could worship and serve as His holy people.
In the fullness of time, He came in the flesh. Jesus revealed the Father to His fellow Jews; sacrificed His life to provide redemption for mankind; and ascended to the Father to prepare yet another place for the family of God. All while preparing a place within, by His Holy Spirit, where He can tabernacle among us as we make our way to an eternal home promised.
That’s a lot of preparing.
And that’s a whole lot of trouble
for a rather rebellious lot.
But there is another dwelling yet to come.
And what a spectacular place it will be!
A place where we will, at last, enter into the Lord’s rest.
Ever creating,
expanding,
making things new—
the Master Carpenter is preparing another place.
It will be a no-other-place-like-it place,
a forever place . . .
with Him.
A place where bodies don’t wear out,
and lives aren’t broken.
Where light and love and goodness reigns—
because He reigns.
The waiting is hard—
waiting for His promised return,
for His kingdom come.
But we have hope for the wait.
We have the Church,
the place prepared for the here and now.
And we have much to do,
filling all the grand rooms
He is preparing.
We can be like Him,
here in this place,
as we long for another.
Fix your heart homeward,
upon the King of glory,
and His eternal place prepared.
#Heaven #EternalHome #CarpenterJesus #PreparedAtChristmas