Journey to the Father's House
Notes
Transcript
Journey to the Father's House
Psalm 23:6
INTRODUCTION
In Florence, Italy, is one of the world's most treasured art works: Michelangelo's eighteen-foot-tall statue of David. The work is so well crafted, that you would not be surprised if it started moving and speaking. The renowned artist captured some of the essence of this man whose influence has spanned three thousand years. David was a military genius, a political leader, a superb musician, a poet of renown, and, above all, a man obsessed with God. Psalm 27:4 underscores this obsession: "One thing I ask of the Lord, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord, and to seek him in his temple."
David was truly "a man after God's own heart." His heart for God had its origin in his youth. The Twenty-Third Psalm captures this preoccupation. This psalm is loved by all, and many people think it was written in David's youth. However, it was probably the capturing of his thoughts at the end of his life. He reflected on his days as a shepherd boy. And in those beautiful memories, he speaks to us about the next step in the life journey of a child of God: going to our eternal home. He sees the shepherd as good—not only for our past, not only for our present, but for our future.
Assured of God's Promises
First, we are assured of God's promise. "Surely" is a statement of faith, a statement of assurance. Certainty means everything when the difficulties of life surface; when the job folds up; when our child doesn't get in the school to which we had applied; when we look in the mirror and realize our bodies are bending south; when the "zero" hours come and everything in life is turned upside down; when the lean seasons come and life seems like more dead ends than through streets; when, like Paul, "we were harassed at every turn—conflicts on the outside, fears within" (2 Cor. 7:5), we need his "surely."
The glorious reality is we have God's promise, and "not one of all the good promises the Lord your God gave you has failed. Every promise has been fulfilled; not one has failed" (Josh. 23:14). He has assured us of a place: "There is plenty of room for you in my Father's home. If that weren't so, would I have told you that I'm on my way to get your room ready for you? And if I'm on my way to get your room ready, I'll come back and get you so you can live where I live" (John 14:2-3 The Message).
Accompanied by God's Pilots
In that trip to join the Good Shepherd, we are accompanied by God's pilots: "goodness and mercy."
What is God's goodness? It's the sum total of all his attributes. It is his character, the very nature of God. "The Lord is good to all" (Ps. 145:9). There is a common goodness to all, and a special goodness to his children. Someone has explained that "God is good to all in some ways and to some in all ways."
What is God's mercy? Mercy means "loving-kindness, tender affection." In the ancient world, it was a love that flowed with deep emotion—even to those who were dishonorable, despicable, and unworthy. These two pilots of life do an amazing thing. They "follow me"—which is a war word, a military term that means "relentless, tireless, doggedly."
David knew what it meant to be pursued. Much of his life had been spent on the run. And now he turns it into a positive picture. These guardian angels become a heavenly escort. Kyle Yates explains, "These twin angels of God will never sleep, never fail, never prove inadequate. They are a part of the provision of a loving God who has determined to give personal, individual help at every moment all life through."
Aware of God's Presence
Then, we are aware of God's presence "all the days" of our lives. These brilliant angels walk before us, behind us, around us as constant companions, pointing us unswervingly toward home.
'I'm not sure where I am going, but I know it will be a guided tour.' And of course I meant guided by God. And so it has been, just as I believed." God's presence is with us in the present for sure, but there's also a future tense.
Abides in God's Place
Lastly, we have an abiding place. "I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." What did David mean by 'the house of the Lord? "It couldn't have been the temple in Jerusalem, because it wasn't yet built. And it wasn't the house he wished to build for the Lord, because he used the word 'forever' and noman-made house lasts forever. "No, it was something far greater than a house or a temple. It was another life. "It was an eternal home." God intends for us to be home with him forever. We are never fully home here on earth. Everything is temporal here.
C. S. Lewis relates this idea to his conversion experience. "I have come home at last... this is my real country! I belong here. This is the land I have been looking for all my life, though I never knew it until now."
That eternal home is established by a personal relationship through faith in Jesus Christ. For the believer, that comes at a certain point in life and continues forever. Death cannot stop it.
When faith is placed in Jesus Christ, our relationship with him as his children continues right on through our entrance through the doors of death when we will be ushered into the presence of our Father. That place is called heaven. Heaven is to be in the presence of Jesus.
"The Amplified Bible brings out the sense of this last sentence when it states, 'Through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.' Not only do we get the idea of an ever-present Shepherd on the scene, but also the concept that the sheep wants to be in full view of his owner at all times... from the sheep's standpoint it is knowing that the shepherd is there; it is the constant awareness of his presence... providing a sense of security and serenity." What a place it must be!
The Taj Mahal was prepared as a monument of love. It was built between 1632 and 1653 by Shah Johar for his wife. Constructed of white marble, it glistens like a jewel on the bank of a wide river. The exterior is inlaid with black onyx in flowing script depicting quotes from the Koran; the interior, including walls and ceiling, is inlaid with semiprecious stones in floral designs. The Taj Mahal was intentionally designed not as a palace or as a summer residence, or even an elaborate bathhouse. The Taj Mahal is a tomb! It was built by the lavishly romantic and wealthy shah for his beloved wife, to whom he'd been married for only fourteen years, when she was overtaken by the great equalizer—death. In writing about this, Anne Graham Lotz continues, "If one Indian ruler could prepare something as breathtakingly beautiful as the Taj Majal as a tomb for his wife of just fourteen years, what must God be preparing as a home where he will live forever and ever with His people whom He loves?"
"No one's ever seen or heard anything like this, never so much as imagined anything quite like it—what God has arranged for those who love him" (1 Cor. 2:9 The Message).
Glen Payne, a member of the famed Cathedrals gospel singing quartet, suffered a losing bout with cancer and went to be in the presence of his Savior. His wife, Van, reported how he left this world. He would come in and out of consciousness and look wide-eyed toward the ceiling and around the room as if he was looking into eternity. He said, "Wow! Wow!" Over and over again Glen would say "Wow!" When he finally passed away, he was singing, "What a Day That Will Be." When he got to the part, "When he takes me by the hand," Glen took his last breath on this earth.
There's only one way into the Father's house. Jesus said, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture" (John 10:9 KJV). For any of you who have never begun the journey, you are invited to join us. For those who are on the journey, be encouraged. The best is yet to come!