welcome home.

By Pastor Johnie Akers

John 14:1-3, “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.”

There is something wonderful about receiving a message from someone who has gone somewhere before us. It reassures us that the journey is worth taking and that something wonderful awaits us on the other side.

As Christians, we have something even better than a message from someone who has gone before us. We have the promise of Jesus Himself!

In John 14, Jesus was preparing His disciples for His departure. Their hearts were troubled because they did not understand what was about to happen. But Jesus offered them words of comfort. He reminded them that His departure was not the end of the story. He was going away to prepare a place, and one day He would return to take them home.  What a promise!

First, Heaven Is a Prepared Place.

Jesus said, “I go to prepare a place for you.” Heaven is not some imaginary destination or wishful thinking. It is a real place prepared by a real Savior for those who have placed their faith in Him.

Think about that! The One who created the heavens and the earth is preparing a place for us. If the beauty of this fallen world is any indication of what awaits us, imagine the glory of that heavenly home!

Second, Heaven Is a Permanent Place.

Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions.”Everything on earth is temporary. Houses deteriorate, possessions wear out, and earthly treasures eventually lose their value. But heaven is an eternal home.

There will be no eviction notices, no goodbyes, no funerals, and no final farewells. We will never have to leave!

Third, Heaven Is a Personal Place.

Jesus didn’t simply promise to prepare a place. He promised, “I will come again, and receive you unto myself.”

The greatest attraction of heaven isn’t the physical beauty; though that will be glorious.  But its Jesus Himself!  Our beloved Savior.  Heaven will be wonderful because we will finally see the One who loved us, died for us, and redeemed us.

Revelation 21:4 promises that God will wipe away all tears, and there will be no more death, sorrow, crying, or pain.

One day, faith will become sight. The journey will be over, the battles will be behind us, and we will be home.

Until then, keep looking up! Our greatest days are not behind us. They are ahead of us.

And perhaps, if heaven’s saints could send us a message today, it would simply be:

“Hello From the Other Side! Everything Jesus promised is worth the wait. Keep the faith!

Heaven is not the end of our story. For the child of God, it is the beginning of forever!