Theres no place like home. The phrase reflects a deeply rooted yearning within us to have a place to rest, be, and belong. Jesus addressed this desire for rootedness when, after He and His friends had their last supper together, He spoke about His impending death and resurrection. He promised that although He would go away, He would come back for them. And He would prepare a room for them. A dwelling-place. A home.
He made this place for themand usthrough fulfilling the requirements of Gods law when He died on the cross as the sinless man. He assured His disciples that if He went to the trouble of creating this home, that of course He would come back for them and not leave them alone. They didnt need to fear or be worried about their lives, whether on earth or in heaven.
We can take comfort and assurance from Jesuss words, for we believe and trust that He makes a home for us; that He makes His home within us (see John 14:23); and that He has gone ahead of us to prepare our heavenly home. Whatever sort of physical place we live in, we belong with Jesus, upheld by His love and surrounded in His peace. With Him, theres no place like home.
This imagery of a prepared place in the Fathers house also brought comfort to Israels shepherd-king, David, who sang, Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever (Ps. 23:6). Like Jesuss words in John 14, Davids words carry both a present reality and a future hope. The present reality of a life resting in the goodness and lovingkindness of the Father is directly linked to trusting Jesus in lifes storms (John 14:1). And the forever promise of a place in the house of the Lord is there to offer us hope when despair might become overwhelming. This is the rich sense of home that can be so wonderful. We will never fully and completely know the peace we long for until we find ourselves at peace in Him.
Are there situations in your life that make the reminder of Gods presence particularly comforting? Thank God for His goodness and loving-kindness.
Adapted from Discovery Series booklet Finding Peace in a Troubled World. Read it at discoveryseries.org/q1126.
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