Have you ever heard someone talk about heaven? The anticipation, the wonder, the mystery? Those of us who are believers in Jesus Christ, know that this world is not our home. We will someday live in peace with God the Father, Jesus the son, and the Holy Spirit. But I was reminded this morning, while reading my bible study, that we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven to start enjoying fellowship. We can have that right now! In John 14:2-3, Jesus told his disciples, “There is plenty of a room for you in my father’s home. If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you? And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live.” (MSG)

Jesus, the author of life, the Messiah, the Good Shepard, Emmanuel…HE is preparing a place for you! Now, close your eyes and think about a time that you were waiting in anticipation for company to come and visit? Maybe it’s a child that has been a way at school, or like my son, off serving our country in the military. Maybe it’s a sibling or a parent or a close friend, that you haven’t seen in a very long time. You miss them terribly! You desire to sit with them and talk, to pour out your heart and to have true, loving, fellowship with them! Now, think about how excited you are that they will be arriving soon! Think about the preparations you have made. Everything is in order! Their room is ready. You’ve laid out the good towels, the bed is freshly made, and the house has been cleaned from top to bottom. You are so excited! Can you see it my friend? Can you feel the anticipation? Now, imagine that it is Christ doing the preparations, and you are the person he is so excited to see! Wow! Can you imagine how grand your accommodations will be? Talk about 5 STARS! But, more than the accommodations…Jesus’s heart is yearning to bless you. He can’t wait to sit at the kitchen table and talk all night. He wants to hear everything that is going on in your life…everything!

For those who have given their lives to Christ, all of this will be ours. But we don’t have to wait until we get to heaven. The fellowship, the time spent with one another, the relationship, that is all available to us now! Jesus desires us to sit at the kitchen table and talk to him all night. Can you imagine how awesome that would be? Well, it is still awesome. He is here…in our hearts and anytime we need him, all we need to do is lift our voices and pour out our hearts. He wants to hear everything!

I challenge you to think about prayer, about coming before the Lord. Many times, I will picture myself walking towards the throne of God, bowing down, and bringing my deepest fears and needs to him. Hebrews, 4:16 “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” But other times, I will just sit at my kitchen table and imagine Jesus sitting across from me. I will talk to him, as I would any friend. It really is that simple. Talk to Jesus, spend time with him as you would your BFF, and he will draw you even closer to himself and the kingdom he is preparing for you. Preparations are underway!