When You're Down: Part 2 of 2

by John Lowe
(Woodruff, S.C.)

Jesus is saying, "I’m going to take you to My Father’s house, & it will be your home, too. You’ll be a part of the family. You’ll be home where you belong."

He says, "In My Father’s house are many mansions." We like that word. But "mansion" is not the best translation of the Greek word Jesus used. Probably the best is "dwelling place" or "rooms." You see, the word that Jesus used comes from the eastern custom that when a son grows up & gets married, he brings his bride back home again. And the father adds another room onto His house for them. Then when another son grows up & gets married, they add another room. The house just keeps getting bigger & bigger, as the family stays together.

D. "In My Father’s house," Jesus said, "there are many rooms. I am going to prepare them for you. I’m coming back to take you so that you may be where I am." We’re almost there, people. Don’t become discouraged. Don’t become fainthearted. We’re almost there.

Marian Anderson, the great singer, was once asked, "What is the most memorable moment of your life?" When she answered, she didn’t mention the time she sang before the president. She didn’t mention the time that she was commanded to sing before the king & queen of England. She didn’t mention when she sang before 76,000 people on Easter morning in Washington, D.C. She said, "The most memorable moment of my life was when I came home to my mother & said, `Mama, you don’t have to take in laundry anymore.’ That’s the most memorable moment of my life."

Stop & think about it. Most of me is already there. My name is written there. My citizenship is there. My God is there. My Savior is there. My inheritance is there. My parents are there. So much of me is already there.

Soon it will all be fulfilled, & we’ll be in our Father’s house. We’ll get new bodies, & we won’t have to worry about getting old & sick & all the other things that plague us here. "Trust My promises," He says.


III. TRUST MY PERSON

In vs. 4 Jesus says, "`You know the way to the place where I am going.’ Thomas said to Him, `Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?’ Jesus answered, `I am the way & the truth & the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’" What a wonderful promise! He is saying, "I’m not just going to show you the way, or tell you the way, or write out the instructions on how to get there. I’m going to come & take you by the hand to My Father’s house. Then you’ll be home."


Conclusion

Do you have burdens this morning that you think you cannot bear. Are you troubled? Are you worried or anxious? Do you feel empty inside? Do you feel lonely? Do you feel lost? Confused?

Dave Galloway told of a soldier who had just returned from Viet Nam. His parents were socialites, very well-to-do. It was near Christmas, and they were getting ready to go out to the first of the round of parties of the Christmas season. Just then the phone rang, & it was their son on the phone. "Mom," he said, "I’m back in the States.” She said, "That’s wonderful! Where are you? Will you be home for Christmas? Can you get here in time for the parties? Everybody will just love to see you." He answered, "Yes, I can be home for Christmas, but I want to ask you something first." "What is it?" she asked. "Well, I have a friend with me from Viet Nam. Can he come?" "Oh, of course," she answered. "Bring him along. He’ll enjoy the parties, too." "Wait a moment, mom," he said, "I need to explain something about him. He was terribly wounded, & lost both legs & one arm. His face is disfigured, too." There was silence on the phone for awhile. Then the mother said, "That’s all right. Bring him home for a few days." "No, mom, you don’t understand. He has nowhere to live. He has no one else. I want to bring him home & to let our home be his home." The mother was quiet again. Then she said, "Son, that just wouldn’t do. What you’re asking would be very unfair to us. Why, it would disrupt all our lives. I’m sure there are government agencies that would be more than glad to take charge of him. Look, just you hurry home for Christmas now & then maybe you can visit him once in a while." "Darling, I’m sorry, but we’ve got to rush or we’ll be late for the party. Call us again as soon as you know when you’ll be home. Goodbye." When the parents returned home from the party that night, there was an urgent message from the California police asking them to call. They telephoned, & the officer said, "I’m very sorry to have to call you, but we just found a young soldier dead in a motel room. His face is disfigured, & he has lost both legs & one arm. From the documents on him it would appear that he is your son."

Whatever your burdens are this morning, the solution to a troubled heart is still the same, to trust, to trust in His presence. "I’ll never leave you," He said. "I’ll always be beside you. Don’t forget My presence."

Secondly, "Trust My promises. When everything seems dark & gloomy, when everything seems to be falling apart, remember My promises."

"Then trust My person. You won’t get lost. You won’t go astray. I’m the way, & I’ll take you by the hand & lead you to My Father’s house."

Jesus invites us this morning, & He waits for you to respond to His invitation, to believe in Him and accept Him as your Savior.