What If This Is True; Day052

In My Father’s house there are many dwelling places (homes). If it were not so, I would have told you; for I am going away to prepare a place for you. And when (if) I go and make ready a place for you, I will come back again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also.  John 14:2-3

Every time I wake  up, I gave myself another 24-hour outlook and nothing else, I don’t look forward beyond that. Then I do my tasks or chores as it comes and enjoy the day or go to work thinking that I only have 24 hours left in my time.  I still believe that this life of mine is so temporary and it can be taken away from me at any time.  I contemplate a lot while cycling or swimming the “what if I die today scenario”, where will I go?  Will I be totally out from this Universe?  Is there really life after death?  Well, I am now a Christian believer and I’ve studied and read passages about heaven and the after life and it is really hard to ignore what the Bible is telling us.  I can’t really be for sure right now if those are really true but when the Book mentions the idea of heaven, it must exist.  I been telling Britta, Brittney and Brent that the only thing that I really wanted them to do when I am gone is to believe what I believed just in case this “Heaven thing” is true and I will see them again after life.  It is really hard to convince people about faith and beliefs. Somehow I think that it is a gift and is given only to a specific person at the right time [your time is coming].  Please read the passage below and find out if you really can ignore the information given here.  What if this is true?  If you have not tried this – try believing that God is real for a week and see what It can do to your life. Talk to Him, believe that He is there beside you – telling and communicating with you just like a friend.  It is something to be cherished as if you are hooked to His presence and you don’t want to let go.

NOTE: The “red letter” means the word was spoken by Jesus.

MIT (Most Important Task)
1. 30Mile Cycling
2. 1Mile Swim
3.

Barnes on Joh 14:2-3 –
In my Father’s house – Most interpreters understand this of heaven, as the special dwelling-place or palace of God; but it may include the universe, as the abode of the omnipresent God.

Are many mansions – The word rendered “mansions” means either the act of dwelling in any place (Joh_14:23, “we will make our abode with him”), or it means the place where one dwells. It is taken from the verb to remain, and signifies the place where one dwells or remains. It is applied by the Greek writers to the tents or temporary habitations which soldiers pitch in their marches. It denotes a dwelling of less permanency than the word house. It is commonly understood as affirming that in heaven there is ample room to receive all who will come; that therefore the disciples might be sure that they would not be excluded. Some have understood it as affirming that there will be different grades in the joys of heaven; that some of the mansions of the saints will be nearer to God than others, agreeably to 1Co_15:40-41. But perhaps this passage may have a meaning which has not occurred to interpreters.
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 be 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.

If it were not so … – 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.”

I go to prepare a place for you – By his going is meant his death and ascent to heaven. The figure here is taken from one who is on a journey, who goes before his companions to provide a place to lodge in, and to make the necessary preparations for their entertainment. It evidently means that he, by the work he was yet to perform in heaven, would secure their admission there, and obtain for them the blessings of eternal life. That work would consist mainly in his intercession, Heb_10:12-13, Heb_10:19-22; Heb_7:25-27; Heb_4:14, Heb_4:16.

That where I am – This language could be used by no one who was not then in the place of which he was speaking, and it is just such language as one would naturally use who was both God and man – in reference to his human nature, speaking of his going to his Father; and in reference to his divine nature, speaking as if he was then with God.

Ye may be also – This was language eminently fitted to comfort them. Though about to leave them, yet he would not always be absent. He would come again at the day of judgment and gather all his friends to himself, and they should be ever with him, Heb_9:28. So shall all Christians be with him. And so, when we part with a beloved Christian friend by death, we may feel assured that the separation will not be eternal. We shall meet again, and dwell in a place where there shall be no more separation and no more tears.

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