John 14
Jesus, the Way to the Father
Dont let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me. 2 There is more than enough room in my Fathers home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? 3 When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.
I would like to share a memory I have of my grandmother, if you would like to hear it.
My grandmother was given a dream of being with God. She said in her dream there was this wonderful water, that when you washed in it, you came out beautiful. Your skin was a beautiful amber glow. And everyone was beautiful.
She said you could walk and talk with God. For he walked and talked with her.
She said when she saw me there, I was riding on the most beautiful white horse she had ever seen. More lustrious white than our eye have ever seen. And that when we rode it was as if we were meant for each other.
I wish I still had the letter she wrote for me. She described in detail everything she saw. It wasnt much later that she too passed away. This is one of my favorite memories. She had written a letter for each one of us kids.
My brother as well had a dream of being with God. His is an amazing story because when he was five years old he was in a near fatal car crash. When their car was pushed over a mountain, my brother said he saw the hand of God reach out and hold them up. Keeping them from crashing to the bottom.
He went to God, in what we may call heaven. All I know is a five year old boy saw God, and talked with him. He said God talked with him and even ruffled his hair, lol. One of the things he saw was pillars, but they had no roof. And that the grass, and leaves, and flowers were very beautiful. They were so pure that they could be seen thru, yet had shape and color.
Now my little brother was shown his family. And how sad we would be if he left us. So he gave my brother a choice to return or stay. He wanted to stay with God, but also wanted his family not to be sad. So he chose to go back. He said God was pleased with him, and said he had much for him to do. And he returned.
Then at five years old he climbed out of the car, and climbed the mountain to get help for his grandmother and grandfather. And God saved them all.
These are just second hand recollections and I wish my brother could tell you the story himself.
What I have read in scriptures, it seems to me, even before the resurrection of the dead, we go to be with God. Even if that is a place called rest. Because if you read in Genesis and in Hebrews it says:
"On the seventh day, having finished his task, God rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when he rested from his work of creation."
and the Hebrews say: "This new place of rest was not the land of Canaan, where Joshua led them. If it had been, God would not have spoken later about another day of rest. So there is a special rest still waiting for the people of God. For all who enter into God's rest will find rest from their labors, just as God rested after creating the world. Let us do our best to enter that place of rest." 4:8-11
(And I believe we go to that place of rest. One example of a person told he would enter that place is Daniel 12:13 "As for you, go your way until the end. You will rest, and then at the end of the days, you will rise again to receive the inheritance set aside for you.")
Another place speaks of a parable of Lazarus, who in his lifetime had nothing, and the rich man had everything. And then Lazarus was taken to Abraham Bosom, where he was comforted.
We also are given promises in scriptures like: "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke fits perfectly, and the burden I give you is light." Matthew 11:28-30
This can be seen here as well as the place of rest. Jesus showed us thru the things he did what rest meant. I never understood this until one night I had prayed for rest. And he healed the problem, instead of giving me what I thought, a rest period.
Jesus did this even while he was on earth in the flesh. He healed on the Sabbath day, the day of rest. Because he is Lord of the Sabbath. And he gives perfect rest.
So rest to me, also means healing. Taking away pain, sickness, sorrow. He gives rest to the part of you that needs it most, your soul.
I guess that is all I will write, unless you want more. I did see someone else gave you the wonderful verse from Revelation. I always like the part that said the streets are paved with gold, and the gates made of gems and pearl. These are wonderful things we have reference of in scriptures. Like gold being the symbol for wisdom. Or rubies for virtue.
To me that is just beautiful, to think of being surrounded by things like righteousness (Job 1:10 10Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land.
and Ezekiel 14:13-20 speaks of the righteousness of Daniel, Noah, and Job, that people like these once saved others by their righteousness (like a wall protecting them).
I cant wait to be in a place that sacred and holy.
God Bless
