John 14:1-4
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
And 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 whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
The
Living Bible copyright © 1971 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by
permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois
60188. All rights reserved.
A few days ago, I saw a
report on my Facebook feed about a house in Whitney, Texas, that sat on
Lake Whitney (located between Ft. Worth and Waco). The home was, quite
literally, falling into the lake. The 75-foot high limestone cliff near
this structure had cracked and given way…and a large section of the
house – and all of its back yard – were now gone…kaput…hugging the floor
of the lake below! Today, authorities stuffed the garage of the house
with hay bales soaked in diesel fuel...and burned it to the ground.
This was deemed to be the safest method of removing the home…the ground
was not secure enough to risk the weight of bulldozers.
This
$700,000 home was constructed in 2007, and purchased in 2012 by Robert
and Denise Webb, who also own a home in Miami Beach, Florida. The Webbs
insist that inspectors and geologists had assured them that the
4,000-square-foot house was perfectly safe. A few weeks ago, they
noticed large cracks along the walls and determined that the bluff near
the house was breaking away and causing their house to collapse. So
they moved out, shortly before a section did indeed fall into the lake
below.
One news reporter indicated that the Webb’s insurance
policy will not cover this disastrous event…that they will be
financially responsible for the demolition and cleanup. The couple says
they planned to leave the home to their grandchildren, and while they
know it is just a house, there is a lot of sadness surrounding these
events.
Honestly, I would feel the same way. No one wants to
think of their home being destroyed, by any means. But if events like
this one – and the April 27th tornado that ravaged central Arkansas –
and other devastating events have taught us anything, we should surely
know by now that “it’s just stuff”…that our earthly “mansions” are only
temporary anyway. Frankly, Jesus made it pretty clear that anything we
can create with our mortal hands pales in comparison to the amazing
homes that await us in Heaven.
While we are scrambling to create
earthly homes that range from compact and cozy to magnificent mansions,
we often misplace our focus. We get so caught up in what we have or
don’t have that we miss out on the true joy that comes from serving
God. We get so worked up over “things” and earthly situations that we
bring on everything from restlessness and exhaustion – to poor health
and physical destruction.
I am very sorry for the loss that the
Webbs have suffered. No one should have to endure that kind of
physical, mental, emotional, and financial hardship. But I hope they
know where their true “mansion” awaits them…and where to find genuine
rest and comfort. If they place their trust in God…if they serve Him
with their whole hearts…if they are focused on Eternity and the “bigger
picture” of their lives in Christ…this will be a mere blip on the
screen.
When crises come in your life and your “house” begins to
crumble into the water, where do you turn? Is your focus on the
“mansion” that awaits you with Jesus – and serving Him until your rooms
are ready? Or are you busy building up “earthly mansions”…and running
yourself ragged in the process? Do you notice the “cracks in the wall”
that signal trouble on the horizon? Have you convinced yourself that
your foundation is secure…even while you see your “backyard” crumbling
and falling over the side of the cliff? Aren’t you ready to take a deep
breath and rest in the LORD? Isn’t this a good time to evaluate your
priorities and see where you may need to make some adjustments…or even a
move of sorts? Which “mansion” has your attention these days?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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