Preparing a place for you

In our Gospel reading for tomorrow's worship service, Jesus tells his disciples,

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. 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, so that where I am, there you may be also.

There are no great details in scripture about heaven. No mention of streets of gold, or people strumming harps while floating about on clouds. Mostly, we are promised that this life is not all there is and in heaven, we will be together with God in a way that is not possible now.

The Bible tells us again and again that life in heaven is life lived with God—fully present to God. Noted author C.S. Lewis writes that this is not a big reward to everyone. He calls heaven a reward that does not sully the motives. If your goal is to be with God, that statement alone says something about you. Lewis writes, “It is safe to tell the pure in heart that they shall see God, for only the pure in heart want to.”

What Jesus most wanted his followers to understand was simple: "Do not let your hearts be troubled" and "I go to prepare a place for you." Or to put it more casually, "Relax, I'm handling it."