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“Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love" (1 Peter 1:7–8, NKJV)
The most wonderful aspect of the inheritance laid up for us will not be property, possessions, safety, or stability. It will be our Savior.
Gathered around the table in the Upper Room with the other disciples, Peter would have been stirred at the words of Jesus: “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. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also” (John 14:2–3).
Jesus had just informed His disciples that He was going where they could not follow then but would later. Peter was disturbed by Jesus’s words. But Jesus would go on to say, “Let not your heart be troubled” (John 14:1) and call His disciples to faith and assure them with the promise that they would be with Him.
That is the allure of the Christian’s inheritance, being with Jesus. When we hear of a mansion, our minds may go to a sprawling, opulent estate, perhaps gated and private. But the sense of the original language is a place to dwell. It is translated “home” later in the chapter: “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23).
Peter extends to those who are sojourners, suffering in this world, the promise of home. We rejoice with joy inexpressible and filled with glory at the thought of forever being in communion with Him who loved us and gave Himself for us, who bought us at the price of His own blood.
For now, it’s like carrying a photograph of one we love while we are away from them, longing to be at home with them. Though we do not see Jesus now, one day our faith will be sight and we will see Him face to face.
REFLECTION: Love creates a longing for presence. Tell Jesus you love Him.
Unless noted otherwise, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright ©1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.