My girls and I were recently invited by some very generous family members to accompany them to Bonita Beach in Florida for an unexpected vacation. For those of you who haven’t been there, Bonita Beach is on the west side of the peninsula just south of Ft. Myers. This trip was such a gift to us. Because of COVID-19, our previously made plans to travel had been cancelled. We had resigned ourselves to the fact there would be no vacation for us this year. That all changed when we got the call about this opportunity. Imagine our surprise to learn our enormous beach house didn’t just have its own pool, it backed up to our own private private beach area. Take it from me, this is how you quarantine in style!
When I say the house was enormous, I am not kidding. This house had three stories and an elevator. It had multiple balconies. It had a fourth floor watch tower complete with a telescope for additional star-gazing and long-range viewing of the gulf. When we arrived, we were shown to our own rooms on the second floor. This place was huge! There was room to spread out in our own space, but also to live communally with family. There were movie nights, games, and home-cooked meals at a big, big table. There were days at the pool, walks on the beach, intimate conversations, and lots and lots of laughter. What a week!
I posted a vacation photo on social media on one of the first nights we were there. I captioned the photo with one word: “Heaven”. I used that caption in a metaphorical kind of way. But after I did, I started thinking about Heaven. When I was a kid, I thought heaven sounded boring. My childlike mind envisioned white robes, halos, harps and floating clouds. I couldn’t imagine spending forever in that kind of space. Heaven sounded like the absence of fun.
The Bible has a lot to say about Heaven. These are some of Jesus’ own words in John 14: 2-3. “In my Father’s house are many mansions. If it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” This passage used to confuse me. After all, how can there be many mansions IN a house? I know God is big enough that his house COULD contain mansions for all of us. Still, I couldn’t quite reconcile the thought of having my very own mansion IN God’s house.
Several years ago, a vocal group by the name of Audio Adrenaline released a song titled, “Big House.” The song received incredible radio airplay. Everyone who listened to Christian radio knew the song. Do you remember how everyone could sing along to the words to “Don’t worry. Be happy” or “Hakuna Matata” when these songs were released? “Big House” was that kind of song. The words were catchy.
“I don’t know where you lay your head
Or where you call your home
I don’t know where you eat your meals
Or where you talk on the phone
I don’t know if you got a cook
A butler or a maid
I don’t know if you got a yard
With a hammock in the shade
Come and go with me
To my Father’s house
Come and go with me
To my Father’s house
It’s a big, big house
With lots and lots of room
A big, big table
With lots and lots of food
A big, big yard
Where we can play football
A big, big house
It’s my Father’s house
All I know is a big ole house
With rooms for everyone
All I know is lots a land
Where we can play and run
All I know is you need love
And I’ve got a family
All I know is you’re all alone
So why not come with me?”
Songwriters: Kelly Nickels / Mick Cripps / Philip Lewis / Steve Riley / Traci Gunns Big House lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Songtrust Ave
First century Middle Eastern culture was a very patriarchal culture. It was also a very communal culture. When a son (usually around 18 years of age) became betrothed, or engaged, to a very young girl (usually around 11-12 years of age), his father would begin to add a room onto the family home for them to live in. When the room was finally ready and it met all the father’s specifications, he would tell his son to go get his bride. After the wedding, this young woman would leave her home and family and be assimilated as a member of her husband’s family. As additional babies were birthed, or more sons married, more rooms were added to make room for the growing family. They spent their lives in a BIG House that was also a loving, family community.
Jesus understood the culture of the day he was living in. He used an example he knew his disciples would understand. In his example, God represents the Father, Jesus represents the bridegroom, and we are the bride. When our room is finally ready, the Father will let Jesus know. Then he will come and get us so we can live where he lives. Forever home. Forever a family. Life in community. Belonging. Sharing purpose. Sharing laughter. Sharing love.
The newer THE MESSAGE Bible translates John 14:2-3 this way: “There is plenty of 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.”
I still can’t fully understand what Heaven will be like. But I know this. I don’t need a mansion. I just need a room in God’s big house.
Now, where did I put that football?