Will You Be Ready

by Darla Noble

If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and will receive you to myself; that where I am, you may be there also.

John 14:3

“…and they lived happily ever after” is how all the best children’s stories end. The prince and princess are blissfully happy in the castle. The knight in shining armor slays the dragon. The bears get their house back and gain a new friend in the process, and the big, bad wolf gets what is coming to him so a sweet little old lady and her clothed-in-red granddaughter can enjoy spending time together.

These stories and movies are entertaining enough, but they aren’t real. They are make-believe. But there is one book that has a ‘happily ever after’ ending that is real…one that actually will take place. That book is the Bible.

Today’s verses are Jesus’ words to the His disciples (and to us) shortly before His arrest, which, in turn, leads to His death, burial, and resurrection. He is promising them their happily ever after—a home with Him.

Jesus is promising the disciples (and us) that if we believe in God and in Him we can be in His Father’s house with Him. It is important to remember that when Jesus says we must believe, He is talking about more than just believing He exists. The Greek word used here for ‘believe’ means to accept completely. It means to follow obediently and faithfully.

When we believe like that, we live with the hope that when Jesus returns (and He will return) He is returning to take us to our eternal home. Will you be ready?

Prayer: LORD, please help me live a life that is ready for eternity. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.