Many dwelling places
Abodes in Father's House
In my Father's house are many mansions (koine mone): if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. (John 14:2 KJV)
It becomes very wearisome to hear preachers speak of dying, going to heaven, and living in heavenly mansions for all eternity, as if this is to be the entire expectation of believers. Did Jesus die on the cross just so He could save a few people and give them mansions to live in forever and ever?
Very seldom is any purpose attached to living in these mansions. It is as if life will go on. Granted, it is always presented as a glorious life; after all, we will see our loved ones and walk on golden streets with them as we pluck fruit from the tree of life.
Others paint very romantic images of heaven as a place filled with fields of flowers and the air filled with beautiful angelic singing.
Seldom is there any real purpose for such a life. It all seems rather boring, especially if such an existence is to go on forever and ever. The thought of having a mansion to live in has no appeal whatsoever, even if it is a place that will never decay, never require a new paint job or a new roof.
Where is the value of the cross in such an expectation? Stop and think about this for a moment and ask yourself this question: Did Jesus die for me just so I could have a mansion in the sky and I could live eternally in that place? Is this truly your expectation? Could it be that Jesus was not referring to a physical mansion at all but to something far greater and far more spiritual?
This is the question we need to explore.
http://kingdomandglory.com/tuc/tuc119.html