In Our Father’s House
June 9th, 2009The KJV of the Bible made us think in John 14:1-6 that when we get to heaven we would each receive a Gone with the Wind “Tara” mansion to live in. Those translators wrote Jesus’ words as, “in my Father’s house are many mansions.” So, we thought of Tara. A better word is “rooms.” Jesus is describing a huge Jewish insula. God lives at the center and Jesus builds on room after room for his “bride.”I don’t begin to understand the whole picture. I cannot comprehend the magnificence of heaven. I do know that it will be a special place because of God the Father and his children – people just like you and me.
I believe there will be a special place for the witnesses/martyrs of Jesus (see Revelation 6). These are the people who suffered punishment and death rather than renounce the name of Jesus. Stephen will be there. So will Polycarp (burned alive in AD 155). Modern martyrs will be there, too. These are people from Iran, Laos, China and other countries where Christianity is illegal yet flourishing. Our brothers and sisters in the faith are putting their lives on the line daily, even as you read this article. They would rather be imprisoned, tortured, and killed than deny Jesus.
We have it so easy in the US – at least for now. Severe persecution may come to us, who can say? For now we fight things like apathy in the church.
I have wondered about the people of the faith called, martyrs. They may be “nobodies” to us, but “giants” to God. I hope Jesus has built a special room for each of them, very close to the Father. I hope I get to “wash their feet” and hear their stories. I hope I get to see the look of appreciation on the Father’s face for their unwavering loyalty to Jesus. I hope I can have the same faith and courage if the same circumstances come my way.
Keep The Light Burning!
Perry Greene
