Heavenly Mansions

Background Scripture: John 14
Lesson Scripture: John 14:1-4; Revelation 22:1-5

Introduction

How are we to think of heaven? It is a place where people with spiritual, phantomlike bodies are playing mystical, ghostly harps and live among the clouds? A place free of trouble and sorrow, but where there is not much to do beside singing praises?

The Bible gives very few details, but the little that it does tell us depicts a place that is solid and absolutely real. Jesus said, “In my Father’s house are many mansions. . . . I go to prepare a place for you” (John 14:2). The saved will see Jesus, their beloved Savior, and the throne of God. There the saints of God will serve Him. They will at last know what it means to belong and will no longer be subjected to deception and attacks of the enemy.

We sing songs about heaven and try to imagine how wonderful it will be. The reality will be far beyond anything we can imagine.

Jesus has gone to prepare this place for us. He will welcome home all those who have prepared their hearts to enter that blessed haven. Let us make sure that we are among that number.

Key Verse

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him (1 Cor. 2:9).

Lesson Text

John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.

3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.

Revelation 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

3 And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and his servants shall serve him:

4 And they shall see his face; and his name shall be in their foreheads.

5 And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever.

Studying the Lesson

In John 14:1-4, Jesus is answering questions that the disciples asked when He told them He was going to leave them. He told them that when that time came, they could not follow Him any longer.

The disciples had expected that Jesus would establish a glorious earthly kingdom, but they were beginning to grasp that this was not Jesus’s plan. Now they were bewildered. What exactly was his plan? What was their place in his plan? Jesus reassures them that He is going to prepare a future and a place for them that is far beyond anything they could imagine.

“In my Father’s house are many mansions” (John 14:2). In other passages of Scripture, Jesus referred to the temple as “my Father’s house.” The temple that the Jews were familiar with had chambers built inside the temple walls. The priests lived in these chambers when it was their turn to serve in the temple. According to Ezekiel, there were ninety of these chambers. Jesus is assuring his followers that in heaven there will be far more dwelling places, enough for every redeemed person.

The first thing that God did after the creation of the world was to create light (Gen. 1:3). The sun, moon, and stars were created later. Many people throughout the ages have been tempted to worship these created objects, regarding them as givers of life and wisdom. The Scripture tells us that we will not need the light from these created objects anymore. “And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof” (Rev. 21:23).

Through Adam’s original disobedience, humanity fell into sin and was expelled from the garden of God. Toil, tears, sin, sorrow, and death became our existence. Ever since, mankind has longed to return to Eden. Revelation 22:1-5 tells us that this longing will be fulfilled. The redeemed will live in a place that exceeds the beauty of Eden.

Practical Truths for Today

Heaven will be a place of unsurpassed beauty, a profusion to delight our senses. In heaven we will find answers to all the questions that perplexed us in life and a comfort and rest for our minds and souls.

A certain unbeliever once scoffed at such promises and called them childish fantasies that were devised to prevent people from enjoying the pleasures of this earthly life. People who called themselves Christians seemed smug, self-satisfied, and self-righteous. They did not appear to be any more kind or honest than anyone else. This unbeliever thought that he was living just as good a life as any of them.

One day God opened his eyes to see what he was really like on the inside, and he fell on his knees to beg for mercy and pardon. That experience opened his eyes. It showed him that even if he did the best he could to live a good life, that would not qualify him for a home in those heavenly mansions. It also showed him that he was just as smug, self-satisfied, and self-righteous as the people whose faults had seemed so obvious.

Menno Simons writes that born-again Christians are daily troubled by human frailties, errors, and stumbles, such as carnal thoughts, careless words, and unpremeditated lapses in conduct. Even though sincere Christians are led by the Holy Spirit and do not give consent to such things, the reality of our sinful flesh shows itself time and again and causes us sorrow. Access to the heavenly mansions is not earned by excellent conduct. It is given only through the grace of God.

In heaven we will never experience rejection, fear, pain, or torment. That should stir within us a longing to be in such a place. One real beauty of heaven is that we will never have to suspect that our neighbor has a better mansion than we have, nor will he be envious of ours. We will never fear that someone might take our mansion from us. We will never be jealous of the favor our neighbor receives, and he will never be angry with us for something we said or did.

We will never experience pain, sickness, or sorrow in heaven. More importantly, we will never experience the thoughts that cause friction, jealousy, and hatred. Those thoughts come from Satan and his fallen angels, and they will be banished forever.

Can we even imagine what it will be like to never have a negative thought? To never have a negative reaction from the people around us? No doubts, no fears, only peace and joy without end? The Almighty God, perfect in righteousness, the One from whom nothing is hid, will be there. We will have no reason to fear what He might see in us, because all sinful things will be taken away, forgiven and forgotten. Those who in life have washed themselves in the blood of the Lamb will experience the enormous difference this has made in their final destiny.

Heaven is sometimes portrayed as a wonderful place where nearly everyone goes. It is made as if it just happens without making a choice or any preparation. A different story was told at a graveside service. Second Timothy 4:7-8 was quoted: “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”

The minister then held up the medal that he had received for completing the Boston Marathon. He explained that the medal did not mean that he had come in first or that he had run better than anyone else. The medal was given to all those who completed the marathon from beginning to end.

We will not arrive in those heavenly mansions by accident. We must consciously choose to begin the course by answering the call to salvation and then keep the faith until we cross the finish line. There may be times when we feel the way is too hard or we do not have the strength to go on. Jesus is always near to offer us another drink from the well of salvation that will revive our spirit, strengthen our faith, and give us the courage to persevere to the end.

Questions

1. What aspect of heaven is most appealing to you?
2. Will anyone be kept out of heaven because of something another person has done, or not done?
3. How can we avoid giving the impression that we think we are more deserving of heaven than others?
4. Does anyone ever deserve to go to heaven?
5. Do you have a longing for heaven? How would you explain that longing to an unbeliever?
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Source: COGICM Daily Bible Readings (Daily Bible Readings, PO Box 124, Glenn, CA 95943).