“I didn’t ask for an appointment!” “Nobody does but regardless you have one.” “Ok, when is this appointment?” “Don’t know.” “Well, how am I to be prepared?” “You’ll just have to stay ready.” “At least tell me where it is?” “Anywhere you happen to be at the moment.” “I sure hope there isn’t a follow up appointment like this.” “No, there’s not.” It is appointed for men to die once (Heb 9:27). Humanity has sought ways of overcoming death for millennia. They range from myths like the Fountain of Youth to scientific research. Today organizations spend billions of dollars endeavoring to discover a ‘cure’ for death. I wouldn’t buy stocks in these companies. Only one person has conquered death and can end it. Christ won’t let up until the last enemy is down – and the very last enemy is death (1 Corin 15:26, 27 MSG)!
The night prior Jesus’ crucifixion and death, His apostles were concerned. He reassured them, “Do not let your hearts be troubled. . . . “In My Father’s house are many mansions . . . “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself” (Joh 14:1-3). Note two facts: He promises us a mansion and He has been preparing it for over 2000 years. It must be a nice place! Our mansion is not a mystical or spiritual place; it is a literal physical dwelling. Not only does it exist at this moment it is reserved for us. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you (1Pe 1:3, 4). When we traveled from Zambia to South Africa to buy supplies, it required three days of driving on seldom maintained and often dangerous roads. By the end of the second day, we had arrived in Zimbabwe. We always made reservations at the Orange Blossom motel. Although it was in the middle of the bush, by the last couple of hours of our twelve-hour day, we encouraged each other that a nice room with air conditioning, a hot shower, and a clean bed was waiting because we reserved it.
Peter depicts a similar image when he writes, reserved in heaven. The definition of the word reserved contains a rich array of meaning. One of them is to guard. Believers already possess an inheritance, which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, including a mansion, and it is reserved and guarded. That indicates it is mine and no one else can steal it, no computer glitches can erase my reservation, or no rust, no rot, no termites, etc. can damage its quality. The books of Isaiah and Revelation provide a small glimpse of the glory in heaven. Scripture doesn’t say much about life in eternity; however, Isaiah describes life in the thousand years (millennium) after Jesus returns, and before eternity. He says instead of war or crime, the earth will be filled with peace among men and even no aggression among the animals. And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not lift up sword against nation, And never again will they learn war (Isa 2:4). The cow and the bear will graze, Their young will lie down together, And the lion will eat straw like the ox (11: 7, 8).
For those who have a reservation, He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain (Rev 21:4). We will live in the New Jerusalem. The precious jewels people covet today are no more than cement blocks in this city. God used them for its foundation and each one of the gates [is] a single pearl (21:19-21). Think about the number of people who have killed others over gold. God’s assessment of gold—He uses it instead of asphalt for the road. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass (v21). Best of all, Jesus is there and we will no longer see Him through a mirror dimly. For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known (1Co 13:12).
For those reading this and you are worn out from your journey, hang on with the hope you have a reservation with far more than an air conditioner, hot shower, and warm bed. If you are crying now, Jesus will dry your tears. If you are in pain, He will soothe you and forever remove it. Death is not an antonym for life. Death is part of life merely moving you into a new house at a different location at your appointed time.
Friday morning as I was writing this, my wife received a call that her mom’s appointment had arrived. But she had a reservation. She had a difficult and painful life but now her pain is gone and Jesus is wiping away her tears.
Sustaining Word for the Week: You have an upcoming appointment but have no fear you can reserve a mansion. If you have a reservation but are tired and struggling, remind yourself of that reservation and keep driving.