Ever just feel out of place?

Yeah. I think we all do, at times. That’s why this passage of scripture from John 14 gripped my heart yesterday.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.

Remember that old song, “Victory In Jesus?” It says,

I‘ve heard about a mansion, he has built for me, in glory; and I’ve heard about the streets of gold, beyond the crystal sea…”

I remember singing that as a child and thought that was pretty cool. But, can I tell you, if Jesus was simply talking about going to build me a literal mansion, I’m not so excited. I mean, if He wants to give that to me, I’ll take it, (who am I to think I can determine my own reward?) but I find more and more that what I long for is something much different.

Something that feels like it’s made for me, that feels like home. Something welcoming, peaceful, comfortable and open for friendship. A place to belong, to love and be loved just because I’m me.

Don’t we all want that?

A mansion would be fun for the first, say, 10,000 years, but after that? The glamour would wear off. Mansions are the American Dream, the imagined pinnacle of success. The dream in God’s heart is much better and bigger.

No. I don’t think He is off building us a bunch of mansions. I think it’s so much more than that. His going is what prepares our place. That’s why He is the way. The actual act of His exit, by crucifixion, and His resurrection, prepared and completed our place with God. It was a massive three day construction project. Then, it was finished.

In God’s household there is room for all who will come. There is plenty of space for us there. That’s what Jesus said. Listen, we don’t need to jockey for position, or worry we will be left out, or stuck in a shack on the outskirts of heaven. There is room for all who will come to Jesus.

When I feel out of place here, I can know I have a place with Him. Maybe I feel out of place here precisely because my place is ultimately there. I don’t know. We taste and see in part while in these mortal bodies, but when we get there?

That’s where we will finally realize that we are fully known, understood and loved, while at the same time realizing it’s not about us at all. He was preparing a place for us so that we can be with Him where He is. That’s the desire of His heart – to be with you. Can you fathom that?

A place for you.

Beautiful.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11