My son asked if there is a house in Heaven like here in the world? I couldn’t answer him. When Jesus says I’m going to prepare a place for you in My Father’s House, does it mean we still going to stay as families in the world when we go to heaven?
Let us look at those familiar words of our Lord Jesus in John 14:2-3, “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.” Let’s break down these two verses to get a clear picture of what the Lord is saying.
IN MY FATHER’S HOUSE – The Lord Jesus mentions His Father’s house twice in the Bible…here and in John 2:16 which says, “And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” In the Old Testament, the temple was the dwelling place of God among His earthly people. Today, the church is a Heavenly people. We read in Philippians 3:20, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.” (NASB). So, in John 14:2, the Lord Jesus is referring to the Heavenly dwelling of God…His Heavenly House.
ARE MANY MANSIONS – The Greek word for mansions is ‘mone’. This word is only used twice in the Bible. We read in John 14:23, “Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our ABODE with him.” In the Father’s house there will be many abodes or rooms. This indicates that there is much room in Heaven for all that will put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. “MANY MANSIONS” (abodes, rooms) show there is room for all who want to come. The Lord Jesus said in John 6:37, “…him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out.” There are really no descriptions of these abodes in the Father’s house. I believe that is due to the fact that the Lord is not calling our attention to the actual description of the abode, but the realization that we will be with the Lord! It is not the place, rather, attention is paid to the person of God and our relationship with Him. The idea that the Father has a house, and we will dwell within that house, gives the strong indication of a family living together for eternity.
IF IT WERE NOT SO, I WOULD HAVE TOLD YOU – The Lord declares the truthfulness of His words. How important is this truth He is sharing with His disciples. The Lord would certainly not build up our expectations only to learn that this is a hollow promise. He is declaring His honesty to His people.
I GO TO PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU – The Lord is literally saying that He was going to obtain for us a right to be there in the Father’s Heavenly house. Some err, thinking the Lord is tinkering around Heaven building abodes for all those who will inhabit them. No, He went to the cross of Calvary and there died to make us worthy to live in such a place. The work of the Lord Jesus on the cross has made us righteous (through faith in Him) and that qualifies us to dwell in abodes in the Father’s house. We read in 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.”
AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF – Fellow believer, perhaps, like me, you are so amazed to know that the Lord Jesus WANTS US TO BE WITH HIM. He loves us and wants us to be in His presence for eternity. He promises to COME AGAIN for us. We read of that future event in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17, “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and SO SHALL WE EVER BE WITH THE LORD.” The Lord does not send angels to get us. He comes Himself to “receive you unto myself.” What a blessed day that will be…and it could happen at any moment.
THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAY BE ALSO – What makes Heaven so glorious? It is the very presence of Christ. It is there we will see the very glory of God Himself. Jude ends his epistle with these encouraging words, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before THE PRESENCE OF HIS GLORY with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” (Jude 24-25). (460.4)