If I Go...

If I Go...

by David Brenneman 

"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 NASB95. 

Somehow, when I read this, I get the impression that when Jesus DOES return that regardless of how impossible it may seem...that Jesus will embrace every single person who's been saved. Just as what has probably happened for every single person who's died in Christ Jesus over the last several thousand years.  

When I read "I will receive you to Myself"...This image of Jesus embracing comes to mind. 

Another is this: 

Oh how I do long for that day.  Jim Reeves had a song out "This World is Not My Home"...and oh how true it is. 

Jesus said that He was going to prepare a place for not just me, but all who are saved in Him. 

My first use of two good eyes will be when Jesus gives me a glorified body.  A body free of the trappings of this mortal flesh and blood.  No more of anything that's plagued me all my life.  Much much more than this is that the mental restrictions will be gone.  Understanding on a level that I have never experienced will happen to me.  Truth will be in my heart, soul and spirit in ways never known before. 

Thinking on that day I find this world paltry in comparison. 

The world gets excited for this breakthrough or that achievement. 

This world gets excited over what they claim science or medicine has discovered.  Those things aren't even peanuts in comparison to knowing Jesus like we will when we do meet Him face-to-face. 

We indeed are going to struggle in this world and in our lives.  We are promised that that is going to happen. We've been encouraged by Jesus to persevere. To press on as Paul also said to do. 

It's been incredible to me in recent weeks to really consider Proverbs 3:5-6. Likewise Ephesians 6.  

So many people struggle with life because they ARE trying to push their own understanding on Jesus who interestingly enough already understands everything.

So many don't get the why behind the whole armor of God, or think that the enemy of God would grant them vacation time in this struggle called life that they live or would cut them some slack if they don't put the whole armor on. 

We're to suit up. To put the whole thing on.  To literally sleep with it on. The old self we read from Paul we are to put off. To remove those rags that did nothing for us spiritually, and to put on this armor, the new self in Christ Jesus. 

With it on we need to know and understand the purpose of each piece. 

I've come to realize that we aren't just to keep holding up the shield of faith to block the blows from the enemy of God all the time.  We are to follow up those blows with the Sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.  This way of thinking is certainly outside of our own understanding. 

See how that connected?

Jesus is coming to receive us to Himself. 

Will He find you suited up or half dressed?

I sit in peaceful silence each day that these posts are written. I long for the day that I get to hear Jesus cry out for me to come home...my place is ready.  My desire is that it would be at the Rapture.  

He's certainly burdened my heart to keep telling people that He's coming again, and soon.

That message means far more to me than my job, than my hobbies. Than anything else in life including unnecessary focus on even my physical health.  For those who had followed my time of weight loss, it's being maintained at a level that I feel is healthy for me.  It's certainly not what a doctor would want for me but I am where I feel is right.  

Should Jesus return today nothing more of it would matter. 

My hope is that someone, somewhere, through these posts might come to Christ for salvation.  That they too might realize the wonderful message shared here this morning.  That Jesus is coming soon.  

"and let us consider how ato stimulate one another to love and bgood deeds, not forsaking our own aassembling together, as is the habit of some, but bencouraging one another; and all the more as you see cthe day drawing near." Hebrews 10:24-25 NASB95.