John 14: 2-3 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there 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.

I lost a longtime friend just over a year ago.  Another friend and I had visited him in the hospital just two days prior to his passing and he seemed okay, even walked with us out to the elevator. So when the news came it overwhelmed me. As the hours passed, my daughter and I began to reminisce about the times he had visited our home. How funny he was at times, and how he and my husband seemed to be so comfortable in each other’s presence – they talked sports and politics, made jokes and sang silly songs from the homeland together. Then my daughter said: “Mom, can you imagine what it will be like when he and Daddy meets in heaven!” We burst out laughing. Then she got serious and said: “that is if heaven is real”. I said: “My dear heaven is real. I cannot afford to believe otherwise, because then life would make no sense at all.” (The Apostle Paul concurs in 1 Corinthians 15:19).

I realized then that I had taken it for granted that she believed heaven is real to the same degree I do. So where do I turn for affirmation of what I believe? I choose to take Jesus at his word. He too said “if” but he used it to reassure his disciples. He was about to leave them, but he made a promise that they would see him again. Clearly he could see the confusion and doubt on their faces, so he spoke of his Father’s house as a place with many rooms which were being prepared to receive those he loves and who love him. He said: “If it were not so, I would have told you.” So, for me, the matter is settled. And I am so excited about that!

While we mourn the loss of our loved ones, as believers we have this great hope that we will see them again and Jesus too. What a day that will be!