THE CHRISTIAN'S PERMANENT HOME

When and where we happened to be born, our parents, our material wealth or lack of it all make a difference where we live for our short stay here on earth. But no matter how long we may live, it's brevity is emphasized in scripture as being like a mist passes away, or grass that withers and is burned. In reality, it is simply a time granted to us a time to prepare for the reality of the endless time ahead. We have been given this time to prepare, not with material things, but Spiritually. I think of it as being something like the accomodation we used to use for our attendance at the African conferences. When the children were small, and where they were available, we sometimes hired small rondavel homes similar to those built by by our African brothers. They consisted of a round wall enclosing a twelve foot circular room, and with a thatch, metal, or asbestos roof. The floor was concrete, and the only furniture consisted of one or two narrow cots. Clearly, they were meant to be very temporary and we used them only as a sleeping shelter even those days. What did it matter, as they were shelter for a few days. Thus it is that life here on earth, can not be compared to life without end, eternity, without illness of any sort, in perfect surroundings. This life on earth has no real significance.

Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you." He who created all the universe and everything in it, said: "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 to 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. Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way? Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him." John 14:1-7. What is important is that we make ready by accepting Jesus at his word, and obeying him in repentance, baptism and a devoted life. He left several parables to emphasize that fact. The chief one being the parable of the foolish and wise bridesmaids as they waited for the groom to come for his bride and the wedding to begin. The wise prepared with extra oil for their lamps, and the foolish took only the oil that was in their tiny lamps. Their lamps ran dry as they waited, and they had to go to search for more oil, thus they found themselves locked out of the wedding which had already started before they returned. Have you made the proper preparations, or have you left that for the last minute? None of us can be certain when our groom, Christ, will come for his bride, the church. If we are not ready, the "mansions" of heaven will not be for us, only the weeping and gnashing of teeth of those who, not being dressed in the wedding garments provided by the host, are escorted out to the place prepared for Satan and his demonic angels. There they will share with them the only other place. We are told that man can not really comprehend, nor words describe what lies in store, but the last two chapters in the Bible, make an attempt. Read Revelation 21, and 22. You don't want to miss this!