Preparations

Today I'll meet a longtime friend at the airport. I've been preparing for her visit over the weekend. Dusting, vacuuming, smoothing fresh sheets on the guest bed, a loaf of homemade bread on the cutting board.  It's been a long time since we've spent real time together. Almost 40 years. Yes, that's right--four decades with bare glimpses of our lives shared, now coming full circle to once again have days of conversation. Memories of high school come with secrets kept, whispered dreams and plans for the future. I can't wait. It feels like Christmas. The anticipation creeps higher. I want her to feel at home ... joyfully expected ... and to be comfortable. Everything needs to be ready before I drive to the airport to pick her up.

And then Jesus' words to His disciples quickly come to mind. "Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me. 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? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." (John 14:1-3 NIV)

Isn't it wonderful that Jesus is present in the ordinary? The placing of a bar of soap on the tub and coffee brewing in the kitchen. He is preparing a place for me right now. It's where He lives, in His Father's house where there is lots of room. A special place, just for me. When everything is perfectly ready, He will come and get me--wherever I am to take me home with Him.

My dear friend will leave in a few days to return to her own home. This special visit will be over and maybe we'll already be hatching a plan for other times together. On this earth, we have so much coming and going. Hellos and goodbyes.

Joyfully expected, and a home lovingly prepared by the Savior. He will come back to take those who believe on Him to the Father's house. No delayed flights or highway construction to hinder us. Everything on His schedule. Perfect. Prepared. Days and days and days to spend with Him, forever. Eternity. No goodbyes. One question remains. Are you coming too?

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 and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  (John 14:5-6 NIV)

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