Muddy Mansions and Clean Hearts

Muddy Mansions and Clean Hearts

If you were to describe your dream home, I doubt that it would be anything like David Owen’s. This man doesn’t dream of an extra home near the beach, in the mountains, or at the end of a country road.  It wouldn’t be in a different state, or even a different town.  It would be right up the street from his first home, maybe a couple doors away.

In one of those Home magazines, he described his dream of a second home.  It would be the kind of place where, when you go inside, you would not have to wipe your feet.  It would not have coasters, doormats, fancy guest towels, or any surface on which you couldn’t rest your feet.  Upstairs, each wall would have a hundred hooks, posters with tape, and thumbtacks or drywall screws without having to ask for them.  They could bathe the dog in the kitchen sink, rollerblade in the living room, and wipe their hands on the seats of the dining-room chairs.  If he and his wife decided to have company over for dinner one night, they wouldn’t have to spend a frantic afternoon picking glitter and Play-Doh out of the dining-room rug.  All that stuff would be up the street, at their second home.  In their first home, they would entertain guests.  That home would be perpetually clean, color co-ordinated, and surrounded by a meticulously manicured lawn.

The Lord said His Father’s house is filled with many mansions.  He is preparing a place for us-a place without messes to pick up, weeds to pull, or sin to cause sorrow or pain.  It’s not just a dream, it’s a very real place.  And, thankfully, its not out of anyone’s reach.

uEntrance into Heaven in available to anyone

When Jesus went to prepare a place for us in Heaven, He went to the cross. That’s where He paid our entrance fee, our ransom.  Anyone who would forsake sin and, by faith in His cleansing blood, follow Him forever; would find, in Him, perfect rest and reconciliation. (John 3:16; 14:1-6)

uExclusion from Heaven is voluntary, not compulsory

The Lord’s passion is for all people to be saved.   The problem is, in so many ways, we’ve chosen sin instead of Him.  No wonder that after surrendering to Him we’re eager to tell everyone about Jesus’ cleansing, redeeming, forgiving and healing blood. (Revelation 22:10-17)

uHeaven will satisfy-even satiate-our deepest longing

Yet in our fullness, we’ll always have room for more fun.  (Revelation 21:1-7) I even believe that I’ll be perfectly clean and organized, yet still put my muddy feet on the sofa.

Terry Risser

Reflections:

1)   What excites you most about Heaven?

2)   Who can you pray for this week to be there with you?

Copyright 2014- Terry Risser

Consider reading the word today:

Copyright 2015 - Terry Risser