In the western world there are many ways to invest your money to save for retirement. Over the last few decades buying a home has proven to be a good investment for many Canadians. Owning your own home provides some security for people and when the mortgage is paid off, a sigh of relief can be breathed.

It is interesting that when our Lord is about to leave His followers for the cross, what He says includes comments on real estate or homes. We may not own our home in this life, but we are given a mortgage-free home in heaven.

The context for this statement by the Lord is His preparation of the disciples for His departure. He was soon to leave them for heaven, and He wished them to be ready for the time when they would no longer talk to Him as they had for the past 3 ½ years.

Telling the disciples His departure was for their benefit was Jesus’ way of bringing comfort to a sad situation. He was not leaving them in anger, He was not rejecting them, instead He was going to provide something wonderful for them in the future.

In this life they would indeed suffer, and later that evening He told them about it. What Jesus desired was for His followers to get a long term view of things. Having our eyes on the goal—rather than on the road to that goal—will keep us moving forward.

This was how our Lord endured the cross and the sinful opposition of people. He kept His eyes on what was beyond the present problems. In Hebrews 12:2 NIV we read

“…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame,
and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God…”

Think about what is ahead for you, Christian, and then you will be more willing to endure what this world provides, good or evil. Soon enough you and I will take possession of our home in heaven, prepared by the Lord.

What joy and celebration that will provide us, and we shall say it was worth it all to have heaven and the Lord Himself.