Forever Home 

We’re moving. Again. David and I have been married for 25 years and this is our 12th move. We’re excited, though, because we will be moving to Georgetown where most of our friends live. We attend the Georgetown campus and lead a Community Group, so it will be easier now that we will be “in town.” 

We know several couples that are building their forever homes.  I’m thrilled for them; but to be honest, I was a little jealous. We didn’t get to give our children a forever home, and it made me sad for a while. I was in the middle of my little pity party when I felt God remind me that I have a forever home -- just not here on earth. As believers, we all have a forever home with Him in heaven. 

Scripture abounds with statements about our place in Heaven. 

• Jesus told His disciples before His crucifixion: “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?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.” (John 14:1-3 NIV) 
• Jesus spoke to the repentant thief on the cross: “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:43 NIV) 
• Paul wrote to the Corinthians: For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. (2 Corinthians 5:1 NIV) 
• And John tells us even more: No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. (Revelation 22:3-5 ESV) 

When my dad passed away many years ago, my son, who was about five years old, said that Papa was in heaven building a house for all of us and that there were flowers and trees and butterflies.   

Today I look forward to visiting my friends in their forever homes once they are built – along with their flowers and trees and butterflies. But most of all, I look forward to my forever home in heaven that Jesus is already preparing for us. 

By Jennifer Preston 

Jennifer and David currently serve at IBC Georgetown and are unpacking boxes today.