Our Habitat: It's Our Father's House

I realize that by the time this comes out, it’s going to be after Easter, but that’s OK. As I write this, Easter is only a few short days away so that’s what’s on my mind, and I think it’s relevant to what this column has long been about.

We’ve talked a lot about our habitat. We talk about that in terms of our structural homes, our neighborhoods and most often our city and county – our community.

But there’s another habitat that can be ours, too. I’m talking about our heavenly home – that place where Jesus says in John 14:2 that he has gone to prepare a place for us.

“My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?” – John 14:2 (NIV)

What a concept. What an idea. What a relief.

Think about how much we worry about and talk about all the work that needs to be done to make our earthly habitats good places to live. At our homes, we have bills to pay, grass to cut and coffee pots to clean. In our communities, we also have bills to pay and infrastructure projects to work on and other people who need our help.

But our Father already has a house ready for us. And Jesus has gone to prepare our room. It’s better than a hotel or a relative’s house with all the tension that being a guest brings. It will be ours forever and ever, and we never have to worry about it. It will be the most perfect habitat ever created and I, for one, while in no hurry, am encouraged by that prospect.

Now, I’m about out of space and I’m no pastor, so if you have questions about how you can reserve your room, I urge you to find a pastor or you can email me at mwhittle@habitatgoldsboro.org. If your space is already reserved, then even though I may see you tomorrow, I’m also looking forward to seeing you one day in that most perfect of habitats – Heaven.