The subject of heaven has aroused a lot of interest lately as evidenced by the many new books and movie. I guess that’s only natural, for as the world worsens so does the longing in people’s hearts for a place of peace, safety and love—all traditionally associated with heaven.

While some of these resources are better than others, we really don’t need to look to them for confirmation of heaven’s reality for Jesus Himself spoke of it. Take, for instance, the Last Supper when He said in John 14:2-3, “In My Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye many be also. And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.”

In this one paragraph, Jesus tells us several things. First, that in heaven (His Father’s house) there is room for many. That word “house” in the Greek is oikia and means a specific place, and implies an extensive family dwelling. By this we know heaven is an actual place, not some nebulous cloud-like spot without definition. It’s a real place with real boarders and with a real purpose—that of housing the family of God. Next, the King James calls these places in God’s house “mansions.” It’s molis in the Greek and this is the only time in the New Testament when this word is used. Its meaning is interesting and hardly what I expected for it means “with difficulty, scarce, and with much work.” It’s clear that these “mansions” have been prepared with difficulty and they are not common but are of great value and points to the fact that these mansions were built upon the difficult work of Jesus’ death on the cross and His scarce and valuable blood that was shed.

Jesus goes on to say if this wasn’t true about His family estate, He would have told us. Meaning, it is true! If it’s not then that would make Him a liar and not God at all, wouldn’t it? Then Jesus says He’s going to prepare a place for “you,” meaning the disciples and by extension all His disciples, all those who follow Him. And what exactly is this place in this house with many mansions? That Greek word for place, is topos and means a specific spot, but not only that but also it means a scabbard, a sheathe which hides and protects a sword. More on that later. And Jesus Himself is going to prepare this place, and that word “prepare” means to adjust, fit, make ready—adjust, fit, and make ready a place specifically for each one of us. There will be no cookie-cutter mansions in heaven. But rather each place will be prepared by Jesus Himself, specifically for you and specifically for me. It will be a unique place, tailor-made for each of us. And since He knows us better than we know ourselves, He’ll know exactly what we would love to have in our new abode.

The next thing Jesus promises is that He is going to come again and “receive us” unto Himself that where He is we may be also. Since Jesus is currently in heaven, sitting at the right hand of the Father, this is where He will bring us after “receiving us.” This speaks of the rapture and the time when Jesus will take us up to heaven during the seven years of tribulation, placing us in His “scabbard” His sheathe of protection to hide us during the worse events the world will ever see where His sword of judgment will be unleashed upon the earth but not upon us.

Jesus then tells His disciples that they (and we) know the place and that we know the way. In verse six He makes it even plainer by saying that He “is the Way, and the Truth and the Life and no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.” So in order to get to this wonderful place called heaven and escape the wrath that is to come during the tribulation period, and stay sheltered and protected in our own individual dwelling Jesus has prepared for us, it can only be through Him. There is no other way. Jesus is it. There is only one road to heaven. And yes, it’s for real!

Until next time,

Sylvia

A lot happened during the Last Supper. First, John tells us that Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him. Then Jesus washes the disciples’ feet. And now in John 13:33 (Amplified) Jesus tells His disciples He’s not going to be with them much longer, then gives them a new commandment: Love one another, “Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another.” And then He goes on to tell them why they should do this: “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

We witness by our actions not just our words. And though words are powerful, if our actions don’t line up, if our words concerning God or the gospel don’t line up, they may have little effect. I think this is why so many non-Christians look at us and call us “hypocrites” because we have not followed Jesus’ new commandment. Actually it’s not new at all. In reality it encompasses the fifth through tenth commandments which all pertain to how we should treat each other; while the first four cover our relationship and responsibility to God. If we truly love others as we love ourselves, we wouldn’t violate Jesus’ commandment so often. And here in is the problem.

So many people are hurting and are injured and don’t love themselves. And because of this it’s impossible for them to truly love others. Yes, they try and try but fail and fail.  Their heart is in the right place and they truly want to be different, yet they just can’t seem to manage it. And here’s where Jesus comes in. HE is the one that can heal a wounded heart, a wounded spirit. HE is the one who can show you how much you are valued. HE is the one who can show you your awesome destiny, the things He has planned for you. HE is the one who can enable you to love yourself so that in turn you can love others.

That’s one of the things I love most about Jesus. He gives us a command, then if we sincerely want to follow it, HE will make it possible. Some of you might remember Dionne Warwick’s song “What the world needs now is love sweet love.” It was a nice  catchy tune, but the truth is that what the world really needs now is Jesus, as well as more people who will allow Him to heal their broken, wounded hearts so that they can love themselves, and by extension, love others. That’s the only way any of us will be able to follow Jesus’ “new commandment.”

Until next time,

Sylvia

Jesus never ceased to amaze the disciples. He was always doing something unexpected. And even at the end, when He was getting ready to go to the cross, He does something astonishing during the Last Supper. John 13:4-17 tells us that He began to wash the disciples’ feet. To say it must have blown their minds is an understatement. People in that day wore sandals, and they walked along dirty, dusty roads. No matter how fastidious someone was, there was no way he could keep his feet clean. In truth, feet were generally always filthy. And so it was customary to wash your feet when entering someone’s house. And if that house was a prosperous one, then the washing of feet was a kindness the owner had one of his lowliest servants perform.

Jesus knew that even those who follow Him in this life will get dirty feet; sullied by the muck and mire of a sinful world. And He was showing how He desires to cleanse us from these things. And He showed it in a most humble and touching way. Here is God, the very Creator of the Universe, stooping down and handling their grimy feet. What love! What excellent character! Even after reading it dozens of times it leaves me in awe, for it shows me we have a God who is not afraid to touch our dirt, to do what it takes to make us clean and whole and beautiful.

John goes on to tell us that Jesus then commissions His disciples to wash the feet of their fellowman. That’s us. We are both disciples and ones needing a foot washing. We are to minister to each other in love, and allow others to do the same for us. It’s not a concept well received in this modern day. We don’t want to be “foot washers.” We want to be stars. We want to go on American Idol. We want to drive big cars and live in big houses. In short, we want the finer things in life and that doesn’t include washing someone’s feet. Because that’s a messy job. It means stooping and handling dirt. It means being a humble servant. It means not caring if we are admired or appreciated.

But Jesus isn’t about to let us off the hook. He told His disciples, “A servant is not greater than his master, and no one who is sent is superior to the one who sent him.” (John 13:16 Amplified). And that even applies to His 21^st Century disciples.

Oh, that God would make us all foot washers.

Until next time,

Sylvia