READING: John 14-17
“I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.”
John 14:3
It’s not hard for me to think about people I just love to be around. Certainly my wife and family head the list. No matter how long Pam and I have been married (almost 28 years), my heart jumps a bit when I see her, and I miss her when she’s not around.
Others I love to be around are some of my students I’ve taught over the years. Sometimes we don’t see each other for years, but we pick up exactly where we left off when we meet again. Somehow the few years we shared in the classroom and seminary hallways changed all of our lives for the good—and I always look forward to seeing them.
The emotions I associate with these times together make me especially appreciate of Jesus’ words in John 14:3—“If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.” It is exciting to think about Jesus’ preparing heaven for us, but even more exciting to me is the thought that Jesus wants us to be with Him where He is.
We often talk about what we get when we get to heaven, but we don’t often think about the joy that our presence brings to the Redeemer. He who died for us, has drawn us to Himself, and saved us also wants us to be with Him forever. He wants us to see His glory: “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, so that they will see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the world’s foundation” (John 17:24).
That’s cool.
ACTION STEPS:
- Thank God that He wants us to be with Him.
- Meditate today on the joy of being with Jesus forever.
PRAYER: “Lord, I’m humbled that You want me to be with You. Thank You.”
TOMORROW’S READING: Review and catch-up day