In My Father’s house are many rooms; if that were not so, I would have told you, because I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I am coming again and will take you to Myself, so that where I am, there you also will be. (John 14:1-2, NASB)
On this reading today, I am pressing past the obligatory golf analogy start. I want to affirm a truth that Jesus assured us. He exclaimed, “I am going there to prepare a place for you.” Jesus intends to live with us—the majestic triumph over the tragedy of death.
I am sure that all who read this now are aware that our beloved Susan Hamilton (the precious wife of Drew Hamilton, our Regional Director) went Home on March 18 to a beautiful place that Jesus prepared for her after her 1,857-day battle with cancer.
Susan shared a vision with Drew just a few weeks before her departure. She told Drew that she was convinced that Jesus had told her that He was preparing a place for her now.
Although we don’t know everything that awaits her, we know that He awaits her.
“Things which eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, and which have not entered the human heart, all that God has prepared for those who love Him” (1 Corinthians 2:9, NASB).
Imagine with me the glorious reunion with Susan and her Savior. At first, she will be surrounded by friends and family who have gone before her. Rejoicing. Celebrating. Finally Home.
Max Lucado gives us some insight: “Each step you take brings you closer to home. Before you know it, you’ll enter the City. You’ll hear your name spoken by those who love you. And maybe, just maybe—in the back, behind the crowds—the One who would rather die than live without you will remove his pierced hands from his heavenly robe and…applaud.”
“Well done, Susan. You fought the fight, finished the course, and kept the faith. Your place is prepared,” Jesus.
Death is not the end of the road; it is merely the last bend in the road before you reach Home. For now, He is preparing a place for Drew, Jane, Lucy, Warren, and all of us. He promised!
But for now, let us weep with Drew and all the Links Players’ family. Jesus wept, and we find permission to join Him. Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15, NASB). God knows He will get us through this.
C.S. Lewis adds this from The Last Battle, The Chronicles of Narnia: “Lucy said, ‘We’re so afraid of being sent away, Aslan. And you have sent us back into our own world so often.”
‘No fear of that,’ said Aslan. ‘Have you not guessed?’ Their hearts leaped, and a wild hope rose within them. ‘There was a real railway accident,’ said Aslan softly. ‘Your father and mother and all of you are—as you used to call it in the Shadow-Lands—dead. The term is over: the holidays have begun. The dream is ended: this is the morning.’
And for us, this is the end of all the stories, and we can most truly say that they all lived happily ever after. But for them, it was only the beginning of the real story. All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and the title page: now at last they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before.”
Jesus promised the best, which is yet to be. Let us take Him at His word.
Prayer: We are grateful for Your Promise of Home.