THE MANY MANSIONS
Back to THE WORDS OF JESUS
"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said,"
"In My Father's house are many mansions!" — John 14:2
What a 'home aspect' there is in this "word of Jesus!" He comforts His Church by telling those, whose wilderness wanderings will soon be finished — that the tented tabernacle suited to their present probation-state will be exchanged for an enduring "mansion!" Nor will it be a strange dwelling — but a Father's home! A Father's welcome awaits them! There will be accommodation for all God's redeemed people. Thousands have already entered — patriarchs, prophets, saints, martyrs, young and old — and still there is room!
The pilgrim's motto on earth is, "Here on earth — we have no continuing city." Even "Sabbath tents" must be taken down. Holy seasons of communion must terminate. "Arise, let us go from here!" is a summons which disturbs the sweetest moments of tranquillity in the Church below. But in Heaven, every believer becomes a pillar in the temple of God, and "he shall go out no more." Here on earth, it is but the lodging of a wayfarer turning aside to tarry for the brief night. Here we are but temporary tenants — our possessions are all transient — ours today — but gone tomorrow! But these many "mansions" are an incorruptible and eternal inheritance! Nothing can touch the heavenly inheritance. Once within our Father's house — and we are in His house forever!
Think, too, of Jesus, gone to prepare these mansions, "I go to prepare a place for you." What a wondrous thought — Jesus now busied in Heaven — on His Church's behalf! He can find no abode in all His wide dominions, befitting as a permanent dwelling for His ransomed ones. He says, "I will make a new heaven and a new earth. I will establish a special kingdom — eternal mansions expressly for those I have redeemed with My blood!"
Reader, let the prospect of a dwelling in this "house of the Lord forever," reconcile you to any of the roughness or difficulties in your present path — to your pilgrim provision and pilgrim fare. Let the distant beacon light, that so cheeringly speaks of a Home, brighter and better far than the happiest of earthly ones — lead you to forget the intervening billows, or to think of them only as wafting you nearer to your desired glorious haven! "Would," says a saint, who has now entered on his rest, "that one could read, and write, and pray, and eat and drink, and compose one's self to sleep, as with the thought — soon I will be in Heaven, and that forever and ever!"
"My Father's house!" How many a departing spirit has been cheered and consoled by the sight of these glorious Mansions looming through the mists of the dark valley of death — the tears of weeping friends rebuked by the gentle chiding, "If you loved Me — you would rejoice, because I said, I go to My Father!" Death truly is but the entrance to our Father's house! We speak of the "shadow of death" — it is only the shadow which falls on the portico — as we stand for a moment knocking at the longed-for gate! Then next — a Father's voice of welcome is heard, "Son! you are always to be with Me, and all that I have is yours!"