Home's Not Here

In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If there were not, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? John 14:2

I keep telling this to my daughters.

After going abroad, moving out of from the Philippines, we tell them we can come back anytime for a good reason. As immigrants to a foreign country, we still see the place where we live and have a good livelihood as not home. There's an itch to come back. There's a seed inside the heart which keeps on growing and yearn to plant one's feet again to the native soil. We may have a house or a residence yet we look at it as a temporary dwelling. Maybe, that's why we haven't let go of our home back in our nation. We still put our time to safeguard our haven through our limited finances and through relatives and friends who are willing to look after our abode. For anytime, for any reason, we will come back for home's not here.

Jesus keeps telling us this.

There is a dwelling place prepared for us in the Father's house. The kind of dwelling place prepared by him who has no civil engineering or architecture academics or experience but has love for you. Everything else we live with here on earth is temporary. Nothing is permanent. It can be constructed or destructed in any given time. The place he prepared for us is different. It's the Father's house. A home where you can be a child and depend only in him. A home where you will reside ever after.

In this light, Jesus as he prepared a home for us, invites us to look beyond this earthly life. To say words, think thoughts and do acts giving weight to the promise of that place. Everything we do or say or think has eternal consequence. Live for him and look forward living with him in that place he has for us.

Right now, you might have a big mansion or a small hut. A cozy place or an uncomfortable space for your family where you spend most of your time. Remember, this address is temporary. You won't live here for so long, for home's not here.

Remember Ananias

But Ananias replied, "Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name." But the Lord said to him, "Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and Israelites, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name." So Ananias went and entered the house. Acts 9:13-17a

He had thoughts against God's.

Ananias had to wrestle with the Lord before coming to Saul who was persecuting the growing church. He had valid reasons. Saul has done unholy things to the holy ones. If he'll go to this man, he is also risking his life, never to see the church grow as he might have imagined. More than that, Ananias might have thought who he was compared to such person of stature in Saul. Will this Saul give me his time or take my life? Will this Saul listen to me or speak to his influence to stop me from breathing?

You know what happened to Paul. Ananias obeyed the Lord and came to Saul. Before Saul became Paul, Ananias the reluctant became Ananias the obedient. Before Paul became an instrument to the Gentiles, Ananias was instrumental for Paul's conversion. Before Paul wrote the letters we read from the Bible, Ananias' name is already written in Paul's heart. Thus when you read how Paul was radical, because a man called Ananias put himself on the line. When you listen to a sermon about Paul's one heart for God, note there was Ananias who was committed to God alone.

I wonder if my Ananias had the same reaction to God when he felt the urge from God to invite me to this Christian life seminar. He might have told the Lord, its just a waste of time. Edwin will just make fun of me and of the invitation. No way Edwin will respond positively. There's no chance Edwin will attend or complete the sessions. Not a slightest probability Edwin will take God seriously.

But when he handed me the invitation, I signed in. I don't remember what transpired over the moment of invitation yet his coming to me made the greatest difference in my entire life. God came to me, and I came to know him. I still work to be radical for him and God is patient with me. I still pray to have a single heart for God and God is enabling me through struggles. All of these changes in my life and experiencing of God's graces are not reality if my Ananias did not do what God called him to do.

Everyone of us has an Ananias. A man or a woman who heard God's call for them to come to you. A person who stepped out in faith to tell you about God. A friend who courageously stood up and told you about his life in God. A relative who shared her time with you when you were blind. A neighbor who entered your house and entered your heart by his actions and words rooted in the Lord.

When a Paul preaches, listen to Ananias by his side. When a Paul writes, read Ananias through his letters. When a Paul is remembered, remember Ananias.

Born of the Spirit

"The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." John 3:8

A  fisherman, rugged physically and more rugged vocally became the shepherd of God's church. He had no plans  doing so. He was dependent on the lakes who became dependent on God. He catches fish and stays throughout the night for them before bringing the light to men he was fishing. Never thought he would walk only to fall and be saved by his Lord on the same lake where he sailed all his life. Never thought he would stand up before men speaking as God's witness. Nobody knew he would become like this. Nobody knew where this comes from, and where it goes.

An adulterer, as she was identified. She was all alone, Jesus came to her rescue. She received mercy, he gave it. She followed him until death. Until at the tomb. She was one of the firsts who saw him risen. A sinner becoming God's messenger of resurrection. A hopeless one becoming vessel of hope. The God whom she thought was a gardener is the same God who planted and nourished the seed of faithfor her to live a new life. And she lived it. Nobody knew she would become like this. Nobody knew where this comes from, and where it goes.

A persecutor becomes the persecuted. He is Paul who was Saul. He was looking for the followers not to commune with them but to inflict pain until death. However, God was also looking for him. At once, he looked at his Lord, things changed, his heart changed. Paul's direction turned around. The destroyer of churches is now a builder churches. The biggest enemy of the faith pushes faith to the faithless. He was beacon even when in prison. Toiled as a tent maker to serve the Maker yet his influence was more powerful than when he was in power persecuting the church. Nobody knew he would become like this. Nobody knew where this comes from, and where it goes.

All were born of the Spirit.

Dreaming of a life like theirs? Wake up and end your dream now. Let the dream become a reality. Jesus opened the door for you, "everyone who is born of the Spirit...." Its not exclusive. The casting is not final. You can be one of the everyone.

Be born of God's Spirit.

Again

Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at the Sea of Tiberias. He revealed himself in this way. John 21:1

He reveals himself everyday to her.

He is the man in the movie, “50 First Dates.” When he was courting the woman he adore, he has to introduce himself to her each date. When they began to have a serious relationship, he has to remind her all over again abut they being together. So, when they finally tied the knot and each time she wakes up, he reminds him to play a video of their loving family. He never got tired of doing these revelations each day. He lived through all these revealing himself again and again for he loved her.
John reveals about Jesus’ revelation of himself again.

Jesus revealed himself just recently to the disciples. He revealed himself to Mary of Magdala. He revealed himself to the walking disciples towards Emmaus. And yet, he revealed himself again. He never gets tired of showing himself to his people. He lives to show his presence to his disciples. He lives to assure his followers he is always on their side.

Jesus reveals himself to us in our highs and lows. In matters we can see or tor can’t see. In everything we understand or don’t understand. In sickness or health. In prosperity or lack. In unity or vision. In various ways we can think of or we have never imagined. He assures us of his constant presence in our lives. He gives us the gift of his love and his existence to us every step of the way. Each moment. Each day. Every trial. Every challenge. Every victory. Every failure. He makes sure we know he is with us.

Thus Jesus reveals himself again. And again. And again.

Witnesses

You are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:48

The witness died.

I read this from a newspaper's headline. He saw what happened in a murder. He saw who was murdered and who did the murder. When he volunteered to testify plus a couple of days, he was murdered, too. The witness is now dead.

The disciples took this route. Jesus declared they were witnesses. They saw what happened. They saw multitudes healed. They saw thousands satisfied and fed. The saw him walk on earth and on water. They live with him. They ate with him. They saw him dead. They saw him risen. They did not only witness one event, they saw a lot. Jesus emphasized, "...these things." They lived to be witnesses and suffered to death rather than deny the things they saw, rather than denounced their faith.

Nowadays, some of his witnesses might take the same road. They can be killed because they live as his witnesses. These modern day disciples may take the step to the grave for their stand in their faith. But not all.

Yet all of  his witnesses, like you, are called to die to oneself. Die so others may live. Die from pride. Die from selfishness. Die from compromising. Die from nonchalance. Die from fear of ridicule in declaring his kingship. Die from keeping the light within the confines of comfort. Die from declaring monopoly of God and his grace.

Like the disciples, you have seen a lot. Miracles. Blessings. Healing. Providence. Opened closed doors. Changed lives. His grace available daily. Dare to trek the direction to be his witnesses. Step forward, march on to proclaim what he has done, he is doing and he will do.

Jesus was crucified, died and was buried. He is risen and is alive. You are witnesses of these things. Take the stand.