Many Rooms

So I think I'm better now. Still have some problems concentrating, but I don't think that's the virus's fault--no joke, ten workdays before I begin to out process. Huzzah!

"Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. And you know the way to where I am going." -John 14.1-4

This passage follows right after Jesus washes the disciples' feet, has the Last Supper, reveals he is going to be betrayed, gives his new commandment of loving one another, and tells Peter that he's going to disown him three times before the rooster crows. His teachings here and throughout the next couple of chapters has the disciples absolutely baffled. I'm pretty sure I'd be no different, not knowing what would happen next in the story.

I really want to touch on the "many rooms" part of this passage. It's extremely fitting (especially after revealing to Peter his future sin), but it's also pretty neat to consider against other passages of scripture, namely talking about a wide path of destruction and a narrow path of life, and not everyone saying "Lord, lord" is going to hang out with God when it's all over.

So what's this about? Certainly the disciples are in for the heartbreak of their life in the next few hours when everything turns upside down, especially Peter when he sees his sin unfolded just as Jesus said. If there will be any time for these guys to doubt, it's going to be very soon. Jesus is making it as clear as it can be in the time being that he's got a plan, and they are very much included.

I don't know how some people are, but I have this nagging tendency to believe Eliphaz, Biliad, and Zophar over Jesus when things go sour (those three awkward names belong to three of Job's 'dearest' friends--I look forward to posting about those superstars some other day, but not today). For some reason, it's way easier for me to cut myself up in worrying about my failures than understanding that God has a room prepared for me in Heaven.

Now, I'm from the "once saved, always" tradition. I sometimes hear that there's good reason to believe salvation comes and goes with our obedience, but I've not ever been able to wrap my mind around that one. So if you're from that persuasion...well, may God bless you and keep you, but bear with me through this one.

It's strange how motivation for Christ works sometimes. I can will myself over and over to do something, but if love for God isn't in it, then the only thing I succeed is making myself (and quite possibly others) more miserable (Think WSC #1 on this one). The way through the muck of this life sometimes gets pretty depressing, and it gets really easy to stare down into the rut we're in. Having Christ explain that a place was prepared for his disciples, even before some of their more grievous sins, and greatest depths of despair, it absolutely blows me away!

I don't think he was just talking to just those eleven dudes on that one, hence the "many rooms." If he prepared a place for them in light of that, does that carry over to us? I think it does!

If you have love for God in your heart, and you believe that Jesus really was a guy that happened to be God, and he died to pay the cost of your sin--past, present, and future--in order to reconcile you to God, believe in this passage also. There's a room prepared for you! For real, regardless of where you're at, rejoice! Dance, sing, high-five, chuckle, smile! He is our hope and our salvation! What better time to be happy than now? Praise be to God!