The Promise Keeper
Devotion In Motion
Midweek Inspiration
John 14:1-2
In the spring of 1942 General Douglas MacArthur was commanded by President Roosevelt to withdraw the American troops from the Philippine Islands. A Japanese takeover seemed imminent. But before MacArthur left for Australia he promised the Filipino people, “I will return!” At the time MacArthur was criticized by many Americans for egotistically phrasing his promise in the first person, “I will return.” But that’s not how the Filipinos took the General’s personal promise. It boosted their morale throughout the enemy’s occupation. They knew MacArthur was a man of his word, and he wouldn’t break a promise.
On the night before the cross, in the upper room, Jesus promised His followers, “I will come again.” And Jesus is a man of His word! So, His promise has boosted the morale of believers for the last 2000 years. Like the Filipinos in World War 2 we also live behind enemy lines, and it’s our General’s personal promise that keeps us from losing heart! “He will return.” By the way, Douglas MacArthur did return to the Filipino islands two-and-a-half years later. He kept His promise, defeated Japan, and liberated the Philippines. And one day soon Jesus also will keep His promise! He’ll come again, defeat the armies that rally against Him, and liberate our world from the influence of Satan.
“Let not your heart be troubled, you 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.”
Life on earth is about to get rough, so Jesus turns their eyes to heaven. They’re going home! Robert Frost once defined “home” – “as the place where no matter where you’ve been, or what you’ve done, when you arrive they have to take you in!” Home is where you can let your hair down and be yourself. It’s where you find love and acceptance. And if you’re a Christian you’re headed home. Heaven is our home, and Jesus has a place for us.
In fact, He promises us a “mansion.” But this may not be what you think. When I envision a “mansion” what comes to my mind is the Biltmore House in Asheville, or the Hearst Castle in California, but the Greek word translated “mansion” (monai) literally means “rooms.” It’s from the root word “to stay.” You could translate it, “staying places.” A “monai” is simply a place to stay.
Look, Jesus isn’t promising us something you’d see on a reality show. A swimming pool, a home theater, an indoor gym aren’t standard amenities in heaven. When Jesus promises us a mansion, He’s simply saying “a place to stay.” He’s comforting us with the assurance there’s room for us in His Father’s house. Think about it, It might be more like hell than heaven if God stuck us in a huge, cavernous, stately mausoleum. Especially if part of our responsibility was to mow its 40 acres or wash all its floors and windows.
That’s not my idea of heaven. There’s an old maxim, “Home is a man’s castle.” But an actual castle might be a hassle. I have no doubt, heaven will be comfortable, but I doubt it’ll be gaudy. Built into the outside walls of the Second Temple, the Temple of Jesus’ day, were 38 chambers. These were dwelling places for the priests and Levites. At times they were allowed to stay right in the house of God. In the Middle East today after Palestinian kids marry and have families, it’s customary for them to move in with their Father.
Drive through northern Israel and you’ll see additions on tops of houses. When their children marry the Father adds another floor to his house to accommodate his child’s new family. And this is the imagery Jesus is conjuring up – not spacious, custom built estates – but intimacy and fellowship. In heaven we’ll live under our Father’s roof, and eat at our Father’s table. We’ll live with our Father. On earth Jesus was a carpenter. Perhaps, the kind that built houses.
Interestingly, in heaven He’s involved in the same trade. And He’s preparing us a place for all eternity. It’s an addition to the Father’s house. Today, Jesus is in heaven, working hard for us, on a place to stay.
He tells us in verse 2, “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 to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.”
This world is a beautiful place – and God created it in just six days. Well, Jesus has been working on our place in heaven for the last 2000 years. We can only imagine the glories that await us! There’s an old hymn with the following lyrics, “Who could mind the journey, when the road leads home?” When the road of life gets rough, and you run into potholes and roadblocks, remember where the road ultimately leads. We’re headed home. Jesus gave us His promise, and He doesn’t go back on His word. Amen
Victor Tafoya
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