Where You Belong

TITLE: Where You Belong
DATE: June 16, 2019
TEXT: John 14:1-3 – ESV -  “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 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? 3 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.
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Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! I would like to take credit for today’s devotion, but I can’t. That’s because, as you will see, the devo really isn’t mine. It belongs to a lady who was a member of my congregation. It’s her story, but I have her permission to share it.

Now, I know many of you have said an earthly "farewell" to loved ones and you may not feel victorious or completely comforted. To you death still may seem final, frightening and cold.

If so, let me tell you this mothers story which was first shared with her son. The boy’s beloved Grandpa had just died and the lad, quite understandably, wanted to know more about death.

The mother explained, "Honey, do you remember, when you were a very little boy, how you used to play hard all day?" Yes, he remembered that. "And, do you remember that when night came you were too tired even to get undressed? Do you remember how you would just lay down wherever you were and fall asleep?” He remembered doing that, too. “

And do you remember”, mother asked, “how, in the morning, much to your surprise, you woke up and found yourself in your own bed in your own room, where you belonged?” The boy nodded and said, “I used to fall asleep in front of the TV.”
Mom commented, “Yes, you did, but in front of the TV is not where you belonged. You know, when you fell asleep, daddy came and with his big, strong arms, he picked you up and tucked you into bed.” She paused for a second and continued….
“Death is like that. We're tired and we fall asleep, just like Grandpa did. When we do, Jesus comes and He picks us up and takes us to where we belong. We fall asleep and we wake up in heaven. Jesus does that, because He loves us."

I don't know if that little boy understood everything mother said to him that day; I don’t know if he remembered; but I did. I pray you remember, too.

I pray that those of you who mourn remember that when Christians fall asleep, Jesus, with His nail-pierced hands, comes and takes us to where we belong. I pray all of you believe it, because, sooner or later we will touch someone with our passing or we will be mourning the death of a family member or friend.

Because that is so, I place before you the Savior. Believe on Him who by His life, suffering, death and resurrection has conquered death. Believe on the living Savior.

That way, when you die, you will wake up where you belong…

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, death comes. It comes for family and friends. Someday it will come for me. I give thanks that because of the salvation Christ has won, I don’t have to look at death’s coming all alone. Jesus will be with me and He will transform death from something to be feared into the door which leads to eternal life in the mansion our Savior has prepared. May this be my great comfort when death comes. In Jesus’ Name. Amen

The music which introduces and concludes our devotions was written by Guy Baumann. He along with three of his brothers perform on the album: The Baumann Brothers which may be ordered here: http://thebaumannbrothers.com/index.html