Oct 23 – After I Have Prepared a Place!

“I go to prepare a place for you.” (John 14:2–3)

The Lord prepared Canaan, a land flowing with milk and honey, for the children of Israel. Until it was ready for them, they continued to live as slaves in Egypt.

On the one hand, the land of Canaan had to be made ready. The dangers of the wilderness had to be dealt with, and houses, vineyards, and cultivated lands had to be prepared. On the other hand, the iniquity of the peoples dwelling there had to reach its fullness.

Afterwards, the Lord Himself came down and redeemed the Israelites through the blood of the lamb. He led them by the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire and brought them into Canaan—the land He had promised them. There they inherited houses they had not built and vineyards they had not planted.

In the same way, a heavenly Canaan has been prepared for us, the spiritual Israel. The Lord does not merely tell us, “Somehow find your way there and inherit the heavenly Canaan.” Instead, with great love He assures us that He will come again, receive us to Himself, and take us to be where He is (John 14:3).

When Christ comes the second time, He will not come as the infant born of Mary. He will come clothed with the glory of the Father, descending from heaven with the trumpet call of God.

The Scriptures repeatedly direct our attention to the Second Coming of Christ. The hope of His return runs throughout the New Testament, and it occupies a prominent place in the Epistles to the Thessalonians. Again and again, believers are urged to live in readiness and expectation of His coming.

When the Lord says, “Surely I am coming quickly,” our hearts should joyfully respond: “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20)

The Lord also showed His disciple John the glorious place He has prepared for His people. John saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, “prepared as a bride adorned for her husband” (Revelation 21:2).

When the time comes to take us to the New Jerusalem, the Lord will not simply send His angels or cherubim and remain in heaven. He Himself will come to receive us. How precious, then, must we be in His sight! When the bride is ready, should not the Bridegroom Himself come to receive her?

Children of God, Jesus has gone to prepare a place for you. And when everything is ready according to the Father’s perfect plan, He will come again and receive you to Himself.

Verse for further meditation: “Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 4:17)