“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 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.” (John 14:2-3)

My husband and I have two sons, and they each married precious girls. While their weddings were quite different from each other, they were equally special, with lots of planning and preparation. Each of my daughters-in-law prepared for their weddings as the most special day in their lives. They were chosen. They were blessed. And we celebrated. Their weddings caused me to reflect on my own wedding, and their weddings also caused me to reflect on another even more special day: the day that we as the church, as the bride, will be presented to our groom, Jesus, at the wedding supper of the Lamb. “For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready” (Revelation 19:7b).

Funny thing: I had diligently prepared for my own wedding, taking care of every detail so that it would be perfect. As I met my dad at the back of the church, as he was preparing to escort me down the aisle, it struck home with me that I was not only celebrating my wedding, but I was also GETTING MARRIED! This is the man I would be spending the rest of my life with (Note: it is all good). We had a brief honeymoon, then settled down into our new home.

In 2023, Ascension Day is celebrated on May 18, forty days from the day Jesus was crucified. “After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God…. After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight. (Acts 1:3,9). In the days leading up to his death, Jesus had spoken with his disciples about his upcoming death, resurrection, and ascension. That is when he told him that he would come back for them, as the opening passage describes.

As a parallel, we have also been diligently preparing for our wedding to the Lamb of God. And the Lamb of God has been diligently preparing for our arrival at our final home with Him. “…I go and prepare a place for you…”  There are so many levels of promise in these two verses.

1. The father’s house is large, large enough for everyone. There is no limit to the number of people it can hold. There is no waiting list, and we will not have to share a room no matter how many people show up.
2. Jesus is going ahead of us to prepare it. I can just imagine: Jesus has furnished it. He is ensuring that the beds have fresh linens, the tables are set with the good dishes, the toilet paper has been replaced with a full roll, and the towels are all clean and available. The refrigerator is stocked. Everything is ready.
3. Jesus is coming back to get us. We do not have to worry about the means of transportation or the directions (that is a biggy for me).
4. Jesus will bring us, his bride, back home with Him. Our destination, our heavenly home, is assured.

What a welcome we will receive!

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

“I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life” (Revelation 22:3-4; 22-27)

How blessed are we to have this wonderful heavenly home to look forward to.

In Christ,

Judy