A Room with a View

“I am the gate.” John 10:9

“I am the good shepherd.” John 10:11

“I am the resurrection and the life.” John 11:25

“In my father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?” John 14:2

“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 

Burning persimmon red stretched across the horizon dividing midnight blue sea from sky. Morning had spoken; she was on her way. There would be no stopping her light. I turned to the right, the ocean waves breaking to my left, the sand cold against the soles of my feet. Ahead of me, where man is not allowed to build, sand dunes rolled far into the distance. One lone fishing pole stood silhouetted against the retreating night.

I was surprised as I got closer to find the fishing pole belonged to a woman and her young daughter. Sitting on a handwoven blanket, cozy in hooded jackets; socks with their Birkenstock sandals, the mother’s arms encircled her daughter as they waited for the rising of the sun.

“You have the best seat in the house,” I greeted her. “We do,” she agreed.

I have been thinking of rooms lately. Jesus told his disciples on the night he would be leaving, “I go to prepare a place for you. In my Father’s house there are many rooms. If it was not so, wouldn’t I have told you?” I like that description of what God’s Kingdom looks like. Some translations use the description "many mansions". That would be fine, too. But I think what I really want if we can make reservations, is a room with a view.

For five wonderful days, I have a room with a view. A white balcony railing separates me from a short lawn of green grass, giving way to sand dunes edged with golden flowers and sea oats bending slightly in the ocean breeze. Beyond that, powder white sand meets white foam waves and beyond that emerald waters roll from the deep marine blue of the gulf until a straight horizon line glows white lifting up to bluer and bluer heavens. This sky changes depending on if it is being lit by the sun we circle or the moon which circles us. Pods of dolphins arc as they travel east to west, butterflies and dragonflies too numerous to count flitter in shadow and light.

“Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.”

I am thinking of rooms with a view because I have been teaching about eternal life. I have been thinking about walking through a valley that is within the deep shadow of death. The good shepherd David wrote his song of green pastures and still waters accompanied by a banquet table in the midst of enemies. We all know in this world you can’t have the sweet things of abundant life without the reminder that the prowling lion is never far away. Best keep that slingshot handy.

A couple of years ago I spent a little time researching and writing about Heaven. It is a good thing to think about. It is like dreaming of where we will spend a long-awaited vacation! I think Heaven is the room with a view. It is the place Jesus left this fallen earth for with a better purpose; to prepare his Father’s house for our arrival. I wonder what that looks like. Warm water and soft towels? Crisp cool cotton sheets? Bread baking in the oven; the table already set for supper? I remind myself that Jesus sent his disciples out with this exciting message: “The Kingdom of God is near!” How near? When can we go?

It is hard to imagine, isn't it? We humans have pondered these heavenly things for a long, long time. Today, I will sit for a few minutes with an ancient prophet named Isaiah – for he had much to say about another place, another time of the coming new heaven and new earth. And I think he had it on good authority.

Isaiah, a prophet, and seer of visions saw the Lord God sitting on a throne high and lifted up, the train of his robe filling the Temple. Surrounded by heavenly six-winged seraphim singing “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts; may the whole earth be filled with His glory.” 6:1-3.

“Heaven is my throne, the earth is my footstool,” the Lord declared. 66:1

Isaiah heard of coming judgment and destruction caused by the rebellion of God's children, but for today I want to cast my eyes forward to the better ending of the story. Go with Isaiah to 65:17-25. It is the story of new heavens and a new earth and with their creation, there are new emotions of gladness and rejoicing forever. Weeping and the cries of distress are replaced with joy. We will build houses, and vineyards will produce sweet fruit. We will enjoy the work of our hands. Our children will be “offspring of the blessed of the Lord” and before they call, God will answer. While they are speaking, God will hear. The wolf and the lamb shall graze together. That’s a lot of good, isn’t it?

The writer to the Hebrews tells us that God spoke by prophets until He – in these last days – has spoken to us by His heir to all things, His Son, by whom He also created the world. Jesus, radiant with the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, upholds the universe by the word of His power. He is sitting right now at the right hand of The Majesty on high! Hebrews 1:1-3. What an incredible introduction of Jesus! Step aside Isaiah – Jesus may have insider knowledge.

The riches of Hebrews are too vast – yet here in the 9th chapter, Jesus, High Priest, has appeared as One greater and more perfect; he is the mediator of a new covenant, bringing an eternal inheritance. The heart and soul all Judaism had revolved around; the tent of meeting, the vessels of worship, purification through sprinkled blood of sacrificial animals – were all merely "copies of the heavenly things". v24. “For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf. He has put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.” v26 And he will “appear a second time, not to deal with sin, but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him.” v28

I know of many these days who are eagerly waiting for him. They are weary of this broken world where wrong is called right, right is called wrong, and people who once looked for salvation now have ears itching to hear a new gospel.

But look back at those words describing holy things and holy practices and holy places as "copies of heavenly things", "copies of the true things". So that must mean the real things - the original, the genuine - are there in a real place called Heaven. A place that one day will no longer be separated from this broken fallen earth.

Can you imagine? God’s heavenly Kingdom reconnected with the wonders He created on earth? I think that is what He has in mind. A new heaven. A new earth. Together. God’s glory dwelling in this land. His land. With His People.

A disclaimer here: don’t go thinking you can make heaven here on earth with all your good deeds and good intentions. I see those signs in people’s yards. A self-righteous recipe for disaster. They have a small view of heaven and no idea of God’s Glory. And don’t think you can rush things along and walk to Heaven on your own under your own power. It won't happen. There are too many ravenous lions lying in wait.

The ancient prophets pointed to a good shepherd. Jesus promised he was not only the good shepherd but also the only gate leading to green pastures. He said he was the resurrection from death. And best of all, life. Best to keep our eyes on him. He alone knows the way.

Hold tightly to these words. “In my father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you?”