The Day of Pentecost, May 19, 2024
The Day of Pentecost, May 19, 2024
What can we say about heaven? Is it a physical location far and away above us according to the words, “and they looked up to the heavens?” Is it a place of thought or of hope? Or, perhaps, we can say that heaven is where God dwells… that place where the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit abide. If such be the case, then, by your loving God, heaven is yours. Jesus has promised it: “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (vs. 25). Wherever God dwells, there is heaven. In the love of Jesus, you have heaven.
This word “dwells” or “abides” or “makes his home with” is popular with John. The Greek word “meno” and its various forms occur sixty-eight times in the writings of John; forty times in his gospel itself. This compares to only 118 uses of the word in the entire New Testament, with twelve of those uses being in the three synoptic gospels. As the evangelist John uses this word, it brings with it a sense of permanence and longevity. “To abide” is to stand fast despite all life’s changing circumstances. So, as the Father, the Son, and Holy Spirit come to abide with you in the love of Jesus, their presence (the very presence of the Triune God) holds constant; it is steadfast. Their presence is not only the presence of heaven (God dwelling with you) but it is also the immovable and unchangeable rock—the Rock of your Salvation (Ps. 89:26 & others).
If you have ever sung the hymn “Abide with Me,” the lyrics are full of references to the impermanence of human life and circumstances while the presence of the Lord stands permanent and steadfast. Lyrics such as, “When other helpers fail and comforts flee, help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.” Or, perhaps, “Change and decay in all around I see; O thou who changest not, abide with me.” In the love of Jesus, you have heaven and your abiding Lord.
John 14:23-31
23 Jesus answered him, If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
25 These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, I am going away, and I will come to you. If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.