Scripture Reading: John 14

I’d like to share a conversation I had with a man on a small plane in the Philippines.  My wife and I were on a missions trip, flying between two of the islands, and an elderly man was seated next to us.  His wife, unfortunately, had recently passed away.

When he found out we were on a missions trip, he asked us a very heartfelt question.  He said that he missed his wife greatly, and wondered where she was now.  He wanted to know if she was OK.

I asked him, “Was she a Christian?  Did she believe in Jesus?”

He answered, “Yes, she was, and yes, she believed in Him very deeply.”

I said, “Then let’s take a look at what Jesus said about where she is now.”  Then I opened my Bible and read to him these words of Jesus from John chapter 14:

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to Myself, that where I am you may be also” (John 14:1-3). 

As I read Jesus’ words, the man began to weep.  Suddenly, he knew where his wife was.  He knew she was in heaven.  He knew she was with Jesus.

Jesus had many other things to say to His disciples in John chapter 14, just as He still has much to say to us today.

He assured them that even though He was going to heaven, He would still be able to hear their prayers.  More than that, He assured them that He would answer them, if they asked for anything in His name:

“Whatever you ask in My name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask Me anything in My name, I will do it” (John 14:13-14). 

And then, as you would expect from any good relationship, Jesus said that He had things He wanted them to do as well:

“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. … If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. Whoever does not love Me does not keep My words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent Me.” (John 14:15). 

He also assured them that He wasn’t going to leave them alone, because the Father was going to send His Holy Spirit to them.  He said:

“These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you.  But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.  Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid” (John 14:18-20, 25-27). 

There’s a note I’ve seen that summarizes the message of John 14 quite simply.  It says:

“Gone to My Father’s house to prepare a place for you.  Be back soon – Love, Jesus” 

You don’t get to heaven by plane or train, by car or bus, or even by rocket ship.  You get to heaven by putting your faith in Christ, and letting Him take you there Himself.  As Jesus told His disciples, when they asked Him how to get there, He said:

“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (John 14:6). 

If you need assurance today that heaven is real, that Jesus hears your prayers (and will answer them!), and that He has not left you here alone, I’d encourage you to read the rest of John 14 for yourself.  Just as the man seated next to us on the plane in the Philippines found the answers to His questions in these words from Jesus, so can you.

Prayer

Father, thank You for Your reassuring words that You’ve already gone ahead of us into heaven, and that You’re preparing a place for us even now.  Help us to continue to put our trust in You that we will be in heaven with you forever, and continue to fill us with Your Holy Spirit, so that we can do all that You’ve called us to do here on earth.  In Jesus’ name, Amen. 

Memory Verse

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in Me. In My Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” (John 14:1, ESV).