Forever With Him by Judith Bronte "If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." ~ John 14:3 ~ hat comfort Christ has laid out for us in His Holy Word! The blessed hope of Heaven is lovingly enfolded in these glorious words. The chief joy of a Christian is Christ; to be found in Him and with Him is our blessed goal. Consider this: Hell is hell because Christ is not there. Heaven is Heaven because Christ is there. There is no greater joy or blessing than to be with Christ. If the coffers of the earth were poured at the feet of a Christian, to be used to satisfy his soul with the bounty of the earth's enticements, they would dismally fail in comparison to the joy and bliss of abiding with Christ, for "this present time [is] not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." (Romans 8:18) In John chapter fourteen, Christ tells His disciples to "let not your heart be troubled". He then comforts them by telling of the bliss that awaits them in Heaven, i.e., "many mansions". But the true balm comes from where these mansions are located, "in My Father's house". To live "in My Father's house", is to live with Christ. This is perfectly displayed in verse nine of the same chapter: "he that hath seen Me hath seen the Father". Christ was telling His disciples that they would live with Him, forever! Our great joy will not be in our prepared mansions, but in the Preparer Himself. For let us remember, that this same Preparer, "Who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame," is the same Who "shall wipe away all tears from their eyes". Let us not take our Beloved Christ lightly! When you are distressed, turn your face toward Heaven, and apply the balm of this promise to your soul: "if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." "And, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen." ~ Matthew 28:20 ~ You may republish this without permission, provided it remains free, accredited and unaltered. Copyright © 2008 Sarah Fall (aka Judith Bronte).