Isaiah 66:1
The Lord said:
Heaven is my throne;
the earth is my footstool.
What kind of house
could you build for me?
In what place will I rest?
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
A
couple of days ago, one of my dad’s dearest friends joined him in
Heaven. Mr. Donald was also one of my grandmother’s favorite people.
She would be “on Cloud Nine” for days after a phone call or visit from
Donald, who lived in Springfield, Missouri. So I said to Mom, “I have
no doubt that Mr. Donald was not in heaven very long before Mam-ma Polly
fired up the stove and cooked him a pot of chicken and dumplings and
made him a pan of hot rolls.” She replied, “Oh, if we only knew that
heaven is like that. We try to comprehend it in our physical terms, but
we truly do not know. I just know it’s wonderful — and we will all be
happy.”
It is no secret that I watch a lot of “house and garden”
shows. My particular favorites are the ones where a house with “good
bones” is revamped to create something modern, fresh, beautiful…and
inviting. The end result is not always perfect…sometimes not every room
gets a makeover. But the home is welcoming…restful…and a place where
one wants to spend time.
We are like those “flipped” or remodeled
homes. Our hearts will never be as perfect as heaven. There will
always be a room or two that could use work. But in total, we can do
enough updating and refurbishing to make an inviting and respectable
home in which the Holy Spirit can rest.
In my mind, Heaven is a
place where there is continual joy, peace, and plenty of chicken and
dumplings, hot rolls, and chocolate! Everything is perfect in Heaven –
the Bible assures us of that. I picture my loved ones there, happily
serving the LORD and enjoying impeccable health, fitness and perpetual
youthfulness. Everyone is rested and relaxed – and filled with joy.
All of our pets are there, and everyone gets along…all the time! Nobody
is stressed or frustrated…and most certainly, no one is angry or
heartbroken! No wonder Jesus says, “I have perfection,” and asks
us…”How can you compete? What do YOU bring to the table?”
So the
question for today is… “What DO we bring to the LORD’s table?” Have we
made every effort to clean up, refresh and refurbish our heart so that
it is a suitable dwelling place for the Holy Spirit?
You know
how you go somewhere overnight and stop at a hotel or motel…and maybe
it’s not as neat and clean as you would prefer – or certainly as nice
and comfortable as your own home? If you go to a five-star hotel, you
may rest and relax in the lap of luxury…but it still won’t be perfect.
Think of this as you prepare your heart for Jesus and the Holy Spirit.
Don’t
offer Jesus a “just-good-enough” room in your heart. Give Him
“five-star” accommodations! Mom is right…we truly do not know what
Heaven is like, for certain. But we know it is perfect…home to our
Heavenly Father – and hopefully, our ultimate destination! For now, we
cannot be there with Him…but His Holy Spirit can rest in our heart...if
we will offer Him our very best rooms. What sort of lodging have you
prepared for God? Is your heart a place where He wants to rest?
©2014 Debbie Robus
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