Take comfort in knowing that Jesus has gone before us to prepare a place for us. He consoled His apostles with this promise: “Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father’s House are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go and prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” John 14:1-3
Heaven is a prepared place for prepared people.
First, we need to remember we are not human beings having a spiritual experience, we are spiritual beings having a temporary human experience. Heaven (and Hell) is forever. So how do we get prepared to go to Heaven? First, we must believe in God and that Jesus is God in unity with the Holy Spirit. “I and the Father are one.” (John 10:30) Then comes the Good News: God sent His only begotten Son because He loves us so much. His Son Jesus died for our sins and rose from the dead. Jesus loves us so much He sent the Holy Spirit to be with us on earth to guide us.
When I first became Christian, more than 22 years ago, I was given the task to read in my Bible daily. This instruction was overwhelming as I did not know where to start. I tested God when the first time I opened my new Bible. I said, “God if you are real and your Bible is true, then I will open my Bible and randomly land on the verse that convinces me You are real.” When opened my Bible, my finger landed on Hebrews 4:12. It says, “For the Word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.” So that God test was enough to convince me to read daily for the past 22+ years.
In the opening scripture of this blog, it included Jesus saying: ‘I will come again and receive you to Myself.’ That is His promise and I believe His Return is imminent. Will you be a prepared person? I want to make it easier for you by offering some advice on where to begin your journey in the Bible. A good place for a new believer is in the Gospel of John. There are four gospels in the New Testament, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The four gospels are eyewitness accounts from four of Jesus disciples during His public ministry on earth.
The Gospel of John begins with words like those in the Bible’s creation story found in the book of Genesis. Just as God completed creation in seven days, John uses the number seven to outline his gospel. Seven represents completeness and wholeness.
John tells of seven instances where Jesus reveals His identity by using the phrase I am. This is in the same way God revealed Himself when giving instructions to Moses. From the book of Exodus 3:13-14: … say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and if they ask me, What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM.”
When you read the Gospel of John you will read the seven names Jesus gives Himself:
1. I am the bread of life. (John 6:35)
2. I am the light of the world. (John 8:12)
3. I am the door of the sheep. (John 10:7-9)
4. I am the good shepherd. (John 10:11)
5. I am the resurrection and the life. (John 11:25)
6. I am the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6)
7. I am the true vine. (John 15:1-5)
You will have to read on your own why He called Himself by these names, I promise you if you read these intently, it will increase your faith.
Lastly the Gospel of John records seven miraculous signs that Jesus performed during His public ministry. You’ll enjoy each of these miracles. It is a miracle when someone becomes a believer in Jesus. Not only does that person become a new creation, but they also receive that same power that rose Him from the dead.
‘I will come again and receive you to myself.’ is Jesus promise to us. How is the world going to end? Can anyone predict when it will happen? How bad will things get before Jesus comes back? From the coronavirus pandemic to natural disasters, many people are asking whether specific events are signs of the end times. The short answer is we don’t know. There is only One in the planning committee and that is God our Creator. When Jesus returns, it will be a blessing to be part of His welcoming committee.
The real question, however, is this: Are you prepared for Christ’s return? You can be, by turning to Him and putting your faith and trust in Him. Commit your life without delay to Jesus Christ, the reward is eternal. God bless you!
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