A Place Prepared

HBI – Jesus went to prepare a place for us in Heaven, but not everyone will make it. It is only by entering through Jesus that we can get there.

Intro

We moved to Midale in 2011 and the first time I really remember meeting Cliff is when He and Mabel where helping us move into the Parsonage. I was amazed that someone in His 80’s was helping carry boxes into the house.

A few things I came to know about Cliff. He used to live in Saskatoon and remembered it back when Sutherland was its own little town. He had his motorcycle license though hadn't actually ridden one in a long time. Him and Mabel you could always rely on to help out in the church when something was going on.

I remember they would even help out with the kids club, though he wasn't running around with the kids, they would organize the snacks and clean up after. Cliff also played the trumpet. And it always amazed me that someone of the age could play the trumpet so well. I mean I play trumpet and I was a lot younger And I couldn't play that well. It was always fun to watch.

Cliff loved Jesus and lived his life for him as best she could. Was He perfect? No but none of us are. We are here to celebrate his life because we know that she has gone to be with Jesus. We know he is in heaven and what we need to know is that we to can go to see him someday.

What I want to go through today is something he likely would have wanted you all to know, if he has not told you yet. The bible tells us about the way in which we can go to be with Jesus and even see him again.

Cliff went to a place prepared for all believers in heaven, and the bible teaches how we can be there as well, I know this is something he would have wanted you all to know, to give you a chance to get there as well some day.

A Place Prepared

one of the songs that Cliff would always play is “His Eye is on the Sparrow”. the story behind the song is quite touching.

Early in the spring of 1905, The songwriter and her husband were sojourning in Elmira, New York. We contracted a deep friendship for a couple by the name of Mr. and Mrs. Doolittle—true saints of God. Mrs. Doolittle had been bedridden for nigh twenty years. Her husband was an incurable cripple (her words not mine) who had to propel himself to and from his business in a wheelchair. Despite their afflictions, they lived happy Christian lives, bringing inspiration and comfort to all who knew them. My husband commented on their bright hopefulness and asked them for the secret of it. Mrs. Doolittle’s response was simple: ‘His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.’

I am not sure if it was one of his favorite songs but He liked to play it. in keeping with the theme of a place prepared for us, there is a verse in this song that stands out to me.

“Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear, And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me.”

how is it that we can live in the promises of this? This song is based out of the bible from the book of Matthew and the teachings of Jesus. In a time like this how can we rest in the promise in a time of grief, how can we rest in the promise of God in a time like this? I want to go back to the book of John.

What we are going to talk about today was the core to Cliff’s life, I firmly believe to be true as well. I speak with some urgency wanting all people to hear this message that also changed his life. WE ALL NEED TO KNOW THIS. Read John 13:36–14:7

In this passage we are dealing with Jesus, the son of God, and His disciples. We I believe Jesus to be the one true son of God, God came down to earth in the flesh. The promised savior of the world. Many of you already know this, but nevertheless it is a good reminder for all of us. Jesus came down to earth to die for sin, so that all people who believe in Him and make Him Lord of their lives and live for Him will go to be with Him when they die and will no longer receive any punishment for sin.

But we will get more into that in a bit. Jesus was telling His disciples that He was going to go away (vs 36-38) and that the disciples could not follow Him quite yet. They where wondering why this was going to be the case, they where willing to die for Jesus. Yet one of them would fall to sin before Jesus died. So, this is the context when we get to the main point I want to deal with today. Jesus told them in 14:1 not to worry, to believe in God and trust that He has all things under control.

John 14:1 (CSB) 1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

Many people like to quote the next passage, I will read it the way most people understand the passage. John 14:2  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.

People look at this and believe that there are many mansions prepared for all people in heaven. That we are all going to go there and have a big house all to our own. not that this is a bad thing in itself. I was taught the same thing growing up. I won’t get into why I believe differently but it is better translated that there is a place prepared for all people who believe in God in heaven. In my fathers house are many rooms.

The Bible teaches that this is a beautiful place that Jesus went to, no more death no more crying will be there. Streets paved with pure gold, no more violence or wars, but rather all things reverting back to what the garden of Eden was meant to be. But all people who have believed in Jesus to save them from their sins from all eternity. Everyone gathered together in one big house worshiping God for all eternity. What a day that will be.

The Christian singer Bart Millard wrote a song called I can only imagine the song I can only imagine after His dad, who late in life became a Christian and finally restored a broken relationship with His son, Died. Bart said this song came to him from God after his dad died, imagining what it was going to be like in heaven for his dad. Would he bow before Jesus, sing and dance and shout hallelujah? In this beautiful place what would

- But how did his dad get to this point? He started out as a mean man, hurtful, abusive father and husband, a horrible man if there ever was one? How is it that a son could forgive a father like that? How is it that a loving savior could allow a man like this into heaven?

One Way

-Jesus promised to be back for us.

John 14:3–4 (CSB) 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also. 4 You know the way to where I am going.”

We know of heaven, we say and know that Cliff is in heaven, in that beautiful place right now worshiping Jesus. But what we sometimes forget is how we can get to heaven. We may think we are going there but I am telling you we can know for certain how to get there as well.

That man that was so horrible to his family yet his son firmly believes that he made it into heaven once he died.

The disciples had the same question of Jesus, this beautiful place that is offered to the disciples, though they did not know the way. The truth that was told them that day is still applicable even today.

John 14:6–7 (CSB) 6 Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you know me, you will also know my Father. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

The offer of heaven is given to all but their is a catch. It matters what you believe,it matters how you live your life, it matters what is in your heart and mind. not every way gets to the same place but Jesus told us the way. I say this because I believe that it is a matter of life and death, you may not agree with me, but I am okay with that because I firmly believe that eternity is at stake.

Jesus command was that there is only one way to spend eternity with Him, Jesus said that I am the way, I am the truth, I am the life. There is no one that gets to heaven apart from going through Jesus. In the book of Matthew there is an illustration that might help us understand this a little better.

Matthew 7:13–15 (CSB) 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who go through it. 14 How narrow is the gate and difficult the road that leads to life, and few find it. 15 “Be on your guard against false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravaging wolves.

Jesus here told us it was like a gate leading to a path. There are 2 paths in life, one leading to destruction and one leading to life abundant and free. You have to get through a gate to get down both paths, the path leading to destruction is a massive gate that is always open and the way through that path is easy with barely a problem on the way

The way that leads to life abundant has a closed gate but what people do not realize is that to get through the gate is free! All we have to do is go ask the gate keeper. But the reason why most people avoid this narrow way is that they do not like what the gatekeeper asks.

Jesus is the gate to abundant life. All he asks of us is that we admit that we are sinners, that we have all said or done things that go against God. We have to admit and confess that Jesus is Lord overall, we have to give our lives to Him because He is the one that died on the cross for our sin.

Jesus paid the ultimate price for our freedom; all he asks in return is that we give our lives to Him to live for Him. After all He is our Lord and savior. It is hard for us to admit though that we can not do it on our own, that we are not in control of our own lives, that we need someone other then ourselves.

But what do we gain, we gain life! The way might be difficult but Jesus promises to give us the strength to go through life, we do not have to do it on our own. We are promised that when we give our lives to Jesus that the great hope that we have is that we will spend eternity with Jesus, in that wonderful place called heaven.

All our sins are forgiven, all pain and hopelessness, all violence and pain and tears will be gone, all that will be left is to be with God for all eternity.You see we are all one day going to kneel at the feet of Jesus. Maybe we will be alive when Jesus comes back as He promised. whatever the case one day we will all have to kneel before Him.

If you know Him and live for Him, we can look forward to this day with great joy knowing that we will be with our heavenly father and all the saints that have gone before us in bliss for eternity.

I do believe Cliff went to heaven. Shortly before he died he said he was ready to see Jesus. I believe with all my heart Cliff would want you to know this. Whether it be new to you or old news, we all need this message. I say these thing, again, because I feel they are of utmost importance.

One way God said to get to heaven, Jesus is the only way. You can try and fill your lives and find meaning other ways, but it wont work. Jesus is the only things that works. Trust me, I know I have been there before.

end

What do we do as we go from here. It is okay to mourn the loss of a loved one but find joy in the fact that Cliff is in heaven now. Remember the hope and joy of heaven for those that love God and follow Him with their lives. You to can be a part of that.

We also Remember the life of cliff today, celebrating that He is in heaven, even while grieving his loss. As we go from here reflecting on His life and all we heard remember the good things of your relationship with Cliff, let go and forgive any bad things. And find joy in the fact that we to can go to see him again, all we have to do, I have talked about here today.

- This is something that Cliff based his life on and something I know he hoped all of you would do as well. As you leave here remember what Jesus has done for you.

John 3:16 (CSB) 16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.