Today's Passage - John 14:1-2

River of Life Christian Church ︳www.rolcc.net/english John 14: 1-2    "Do not let your heart be troubled.  Trust in God; trust also in me.  In my father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you."    One time we went to Los Angeles on vacation as a family.  We stayed in a sister's house, and it happened that she was on business overseas. So we stayed in this big and comfortable home for a few days.  One day as we were returning home after spending a whole day in Disney Land, my daughter asked, "Dad, where are we going now?"  Without much thought, I replied, "Going home now!" She responded immediately, "Which home?" It dawned on me immediately that she was thinking about her own home.  Little did we realize that after a few busy days vacationing in Los Angeles, we all missed our own home. Even though this sister's house is big and comfortable, it is not our own home after all.  We still missed our own home.   Isn't it like this in our lives on earth? The Bible tells us that this world is not our home and we are just sojourns on this earth. Our home is actually in heaven. Do you have this assurance that your home is in heaven? If you do, then you would not be under the bondage of our complex lives on earth. Just like attending a retreat in a camp ground, even though the facility is primitive, this is, however, not our homes.  After living for a few days, our hearts will be at ease and feel pretty comfortable. But you would find it laughable if a person making a big effort buying a television and a sound system for a place he is going to stay for only a few days, and you might question, "This is not your home, why make such a big effort?"     Often times we forget the fact that "This world is not our home". Instead, we try very hard to fulfill our daily needs spending all we have, and you may even justify by saying "After all, we may live in this world for seventy or eighty year!"  Ironically, seventy to eighty years is just a blink in God's eyes. This is exactly why Jesus tried to comfort His disciples, "Do not let your hearts be troubled."  We worry because our futures are not secured, and our lives and support are uncertain. Our Lord, therefore, promised us, "In my father's house, there are many rooms prepared for you."  Our gracious Lord will provide you all your needs; not only your needs for today, but those in the future; His is not only our trust today, but the assurance for your eternal lives. There are many rooms in our Father's house, and there is one prepared for you.   In addition, our Lord says, "Trust in God, trust also in me."  Jesus'   ascension to heaven does not mean that He has forgotten us, but rather He is going to prepare a place for us in this eternal heavenly home.  As it is recorded in Hebrews 11:16,"Instead they are longing for a better country - a heavenly one." Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them"   Brothers and sisters, do you truly understand the real meaning of "This world is not my home?"  Are you, indeed, living out this truth in your daily lives?                 Pray with Pastor Tong           Dear Lord, we thank you for all our hopes are in you.  We pray that you may no longer live under the bondage of this world, but follow you closely till the day we see you face to face.  With thanks we pray, in the name of our victorious Jesus, Amen!