In John’s Gospel there is a beautiful passage in which Jesus promises his disciples a place in the Father’s house. I especially love the phrase, “My Father’s house has many rooms” (John 14: 2). There is another translation that you may sometimes come across: “My Father’s house has many dwelling places.” It evokes a lovely image of people being able to stay there forever: to live there, to dwell there.
Australians, in particular, love the idea of owning our own home. It gives us a sense of security, I guess. So, this picture of the Father’s house having many rooms is quite appealing – it’s that lovely sense of having a place where we can live with God forever.
The traditional language for this place is “heaven” – the place where we go after we die and can live with God forever. In the Christian tradition, the way to this beautiful place is through Jesus. Jesus shows us the way and Jesus is the way. There are two words which are specifically connected with Jesus being the way: he says, “I am the way: the truth and the life.” In other words, if we get to know Jesus, we will know what truth is and we will know what true life is: life in all its beauty.
Actually, you can put it around the other way too, if we know what truth is and what life is, then we’ll discover Jesus. If we live life to the fullest, and live a life based on truth, we will discover Jesus along the way.
The Father’s home: it is a beautiful picture of life with God forever. But it’s also an image that works for life right here and now. Whatever happens, God’s love will be with us. Nothing will separate us from God’s love, whether it’s now or after death. This is what hope means: God’s love is with us now and forever.
The Reverend Dr Theo McCall
School Chaplain