Yesterday, the father of a good friend of mine died. To his family, his death was sudden and unexpected. Yet we know that death is certain for all of us.

Today is Good Friday. A day for remembering that Jesus died in our place and to pay the penalty for our sins. On Sunday we will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus!

One of the greatest results of the death and resurrection of our Lord Jesus is the promise of our own resurrection. And he has promised us much more.

On the night Jesus was betrayed, he said:

“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 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 again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.” John 14:1-3 (ESV)

Jesus has prepared for us an eternal home.

In Revelation 21 and 22, the Holy Spirit gives us a glimpse of what that eternal home looks like:

“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4 (ESV)

“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)

In the short video clip below, from Life Explored session seven, Rico Tice speaks about how God has given us a longing for this new heaven and new earth, a longing for a home that no home on this current earth can ever satisfy.

The Lord is risen! He has prepared a home for us. One day we’ll see him face-to-face. That’s the best gift God can give you.