Let’s Go To God’s House”
John 14:1-6
David P. Nolte
Here are some pretty posh hotel rooms. They show extravagance of comfort, convenience and cost. They are fine examples of interior decoration and imagination.
But because of Jesus we can all lay claim to an infinitely finer dwelling place than any place on earth and even in their prime condition, the best of earth would look like a chicken coop or a rat hole next to the one Jesus is preparing! If Heaven had a slum, these places would be slummier!
With Jesus as Architect, Contractor and Builder, how could it be less than perfect?
The Scripture says, "’Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 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. And you know the way where I am going.’ Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’” John 14:1-6 (NASB).
I want to suggest some wonderful, hope causing truths about that prepared place.
When it is time for us to move into our own prepared place, Jesus will escort us there and we won’t be faced with a botched reservation or no vacancy, or unready accommodation.
NO! It will all be ready for our arrival!
I. THERE IS ROOM FOR ALL IN HIS HOUSE:
A. Jesus said, "In My Father's house are many dwelling places."
1. Other versions say, "many mansions;" or "many rooms."
2. The NLT says, "There is more than enough room in My Father's home."
B. God's House is colossal and there's room for all; there's room for you, and room for me.
1. He, for Whom no room was found at the inn, never says, "No room!"
2. You will never see a neon sign, "No Vacancy!"
C. It's just as the Gaither’s wrote,
"Plenty of food at the table,
No need to economize there.
There's all you can hold and there's plenty besides
And the storehouse will never be bare.
Plenty of room in the family,
Room for the young and the old.
Plenty of happiness;
Plenty of love;
Plenty of room in the fold.
If you're lonely and looking for friendship,
And you're lost and you want to be found.
There's plenty of room in the family of God,
And there's plenty of love to go around.
Plenty of happiness;
Plenty of love;
Plenty of room in the fold.”
D. A sad faced boy of about 10 years of age, with tattered garments needed to hear something like that as he stood at the door of a Christian Orphanage. Both of his parents were recently deceased and having no other family, he needed a place to live. As the person who opened the door to his knock looked at him with a pleasant smile, the boy asked, timidly, "Please, sir, I have no home or parents. Is there room for one more?" Of course, there was.
E. Whereas once we were orphaned and separated from God by sin, He makes room for us. As the song says, "There's room at the cross for you!" And there's room in God's House, too.
Since there is plenty of room, it is also true that:
II. EVERYBODY IS WELCOME AT HIS HOUSE:
A. Jesus indicated His desire to have us at God's house, saying, "I go to prepare a place for you. 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." He wants us there!
B. How wide is His invitation? To whom does He extend welcome? Let God answer that in His word: Jesus summed it up:
1. “All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will certainly not cast out." John 6:37 (NASB).
2. And who is the one the Father gives to Jesus and who, therefore comes to Him? Jesus said, "Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father, comes to Me.” John 6:45 (NASB).
C. None excluded but those who exclude themselves by unbelief.
1. God calls us to avoid close fellowship with unbelievers, and to separate ourselves from them. Then He said, "Don't touch their filthy things, and I will welcome you. And I will be your Father, and you will be My sons and daughters," says the Lord Almighty.” 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 (NLT).
2. Isaiah wrote, "Don't let foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord say, ‘The Lord will never let me be part of His people.’" Isaiah 56:3 (NLT).
D. So, as P.G. Matthews said, "Reject also the opinion of anyone who tells you that you are hopeless, miserable, and can never amount to anything. What matters are God's thoughts concerning you. So look to the Lord and listen to His voice of mercy; trust in His readiness and willingness to liberate you, save you, cleanse you, and embrace you. Salvation is for every miserable sinner who repents and believes on the Lord Jesus Christ. Come to Him, and you will discover Him as your Savior. . . . . The world may despise you, but the Lord welcomes you. He welcomes all those who consider themselves worms. He welcomes prostitutes, publicans, and sinners of every stripe. He welcomes all who are undeserving to come into His banqueting hall. Come as you are, and He shall clothe you with His robe of righteousness achieved at the cross."
E. Einstein is an example of providing welcome. When he came to America he bought a house within walking distance of Princeton University. There he entertained some of the most distinguished people of his day. But Einstein had another frequent visitor, one of his favoriites.
She was a ten-year-old girl named Emmy. Emmy heard that a very kind man who knew a lot about mathematics had moved into her neighborhood. Since she was having trouble with her fifth-grade arithmetic, she decided to visit the man down the block and see if he would help her with her problems. Einstein was very willing and explained everything to her. He also told her she was welcome to come anytime she needed help.
One of the neighbors told Emmy's mother what Emmy was doing. Horrified, she told her daughter that Einstein was a very important man, whose time was very valuable, and he couldn't be bothered with the problems of a little schoolgirl. And then she rushed over to Einstein's house, and when Einstein answered the door, she started trying to blurt out an apology for her daughter's intrusion – for being such a bother. But Einstein said, "She has not been bothering me! Please don't stop Emmy from coming to me with her school problems. She is welcome in this house anytime."
So, if there is plenty of room, and all are welcome at God's House, then:
III. WE HAVE FREE ACCESS TO HIS HOUSE:
A. Jesus provides that access:
1. "I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way where I am going.’ Thomas said to Him, ‘Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way? Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.’" But through Him, we have access; by grace, faith gives us the key and we're free to walk in!
2. He said, "I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture." John 10:9 (NASB).
B. Notice that:
1. Jesus came to bring Jew and Gentile into one household. Paul wrote, “For through Him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit." Ephesians 2:17-18 (NIV).
2. "In Him and through faith in Him we may approach God with freedom and confidence." Ephesians 3:12 (NIV).
3. "Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." Romans 5:1-2 (NIV).
C. Day and night, sun and rain, peace and strife, joy and sorrow, loss or gain; we always have access to His House.
1. David prayed, "Be to me a rock of habitation to which I may continually come," Psalms 71:3 (NASB). We have free and continual access to God.
2. The writer of the Hebrew letter said, "For we do not have a high priest Who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one Who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIV).
D. There are no "Keep out! Off limits!" signs; there are no posted warnings, "Private Property! No Trespassing!" We have free and continual access.
E. Let me illustrate limited access. While I was a student at New Mexico State University I also worked in high security areas at White Sands Missile Range as part of my education in Electrical Engineering. In order to enter any of the security areas, we all had badges with our picture and the level of our security clearance; without a badge, even the President would have had no access to those areas.
At one secure, gated area, the guard was new and nervous. He said to me, "Show your badge." He mumbled and I thought he said, "Step out of the truck." Suddenly, with shaking hands, he shoved a semi-automatic pistol in my face. Well, I found out what would happen should anyone attempt to gain illicit access.
With our badges, though, we drove freely past the security guards, through the chain link gate and into the workplace.
When we know and surrender to Jesus as Lord and Savior, we are given the badge or seal of God, unseen by human eyes, but which provides free, full, constant access to Him daily, and ultimately for eternity. We shall be welcomed there if we live here by faith.
With David say, "One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek Him in His temple." Psalms 27:4 (NIV).
“In my Father's house are many mansions;
If it were not true He would have told me so.
He has gone away to live in that bright city;
He's preparing me a mansion there I know
Jesus died upon the cross to bear my sorrow.
Freely died that souls like you might have new life.
But I know that soon there'll come a bright tomorrow
When the world will all be free from sin and strife
In my Father's house are many mansions;
If you're true then to this land you'll surely go.”
(Elvis Presley)
There is no question about God's door always being open to you; the question is, "Have you opened your door to Him?"
We are all familiar with this picture. But have we taken it personally? There is no latch or handle on the outside of the door; it must be opened from within.
To the church at Laodicea, Jesus said, "Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me." Revelation 3:20 (NASB).
Will you open the door today? You do so by putting your trust in Jesus; by turning from sinful ways; by being buried with Him in baptism; and by learning from Him daily how to live a Christian life.
Unless you welcome Him to your house, you won't get in to His. If you open the door, you'll find Christ. Jesus is knocking; answer the door; invite Him in. (Who at my door is standing?")
