Pilgrims to the Father’s House
This is an audio recording of Pilgrims to the Father’s House the Day 26 entry in Today: Devotions for Seafarers (Vol. 2) by Jason Zuidema.
Listen to the audio by Donielle Hart Goad or read the text below:
““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.””
Many seafarers dream of building a better home for their families. It can be one of the biggest purchases of their lives—and they may work many years to pay for it.
My grandfather, an immigrant to Canada from post-World War II Europe, prayed more-or-less the same prayer every morning at breakfast. He prayed that we might be "pilgrims to the Father-house with many mansions" and that "we would have strength to bear." These phrases seemed strange to me as a child, but they were based on an older English version of the Bible, which translated today's verses with the words, "In my Father's house there are many mansions. . ."
These verses ought to be a great comfort to us. Jesus tells us that his Father has prepared a place for us—so we are expected guests. Though the older English translation may make us think of grandiose buildings, we ought not to minimize the reality that the rooms of the Father's house are custom built for us. These rooms are being prepared by God himself.
It seems clear also that Jesus is not simply talking about a dwelling that is being built for us sometime in the future. He speaks of going there, after his death and resurrection, to prepare a place for us.
This means that today we can have the joy of knowing that our living space is already prepared, even though we are still on the Christian pilgrim journey in this world. That gives us all the more reason to pray that God will make us joyful and faithful pilgrims!
For Further Thought
What do you think will happen to you after you die?
Why does the Bible say that Jesus is preparing a place for us?
Are you excited to meet Jesus, explain.
Prayer
Lord in heaven, thank you for preparing a place for us. We pray that we might be faithful pilgrims, never forgetting that you watch over our path. In Christ's name, Amen.
