We have a full house, so when our oldest left for college, we stretched out a little bit. But she’ll be home soon, and we want her to know that this is still her home. So we’ve been getting ready, planning, cleaning, rearranging, buying a few things, all with the view of making her arrival more welcome, her stay more comfortable. It’s been a lot more work than I anticipated, but we can’t wait to have her with us again.
All this preparation reminds me of Jesus’ words to the disciples as they neared Jerusalem for the last time – “There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am” (John 14:2-3). Among the many things Jesus is doing right now, He’s preparing a place for you and me, a welcome home.
I don’t know what the work looks like on the Heaven side, but on the earth side, I’m certain there’s a lot of work going on inside of me. Some things need cleaning up, others need to be put in their proper place. The Lord is getting rid of anything there’s no room for in a heaven-oriented life, and outfitting me with whatever will be needed in the days to come.
The Lord isn’t doing all this so that we’ll look good, or so that He’ll look good. It’s so that we will be good – holy, like He is, so that we can be where He is (Hebrews 12:14; Psalm 5:4). Then there will be no shame or shortcoming on my part (Matthew 22:12). There will be no condemnation or discomfort on His part (Romans 8:1; Ephesians 3:17).
He desires our coming, our arrival pleases Him. We are welcome.
“Father, I want those whom you have given me to be with me where I am.” John 17:24