I don’t spend much time thinking about Jesus’ return, but I should. I guess I just assume that I will die before he comes back. That’s actually quite foolish, according to Jesus. Certainly, I am aware of all the parables about being awake and alert for the master’s return, but that seems meant as warning for the unsaved. It’s for me, too.

Does this serve as a threat to me – like parents who warn their teenagers to be good when they leave? Well, I suppose it would serve that, but that thinking reveals the wickedness that is still in my heart. Yes, I am prone to sin and wandering. Yes, I do need to actively manage my faith. However, I think there is more to it than that.

If Jesus is coming back, that means he’s somewhere else right now. And, if he is somewhere else, that means he is doing something. What might that be? I can think of two things off the top of my head: preparing our new home and interceding for us.

John 14:1-3 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

 Romans 8:34 ³⁴ Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.

Too often I fall into a pattern of thinking conceptually about Jesus rather than as him as someone that is my brother and friend, someone that I can see, touch, and talk to. I suppose that’s to be expected because I have never met the man. Oh, for sure, I have experienced his miracles, but I have not seen his face with my eyes. That’s why it’s easy to thing ABOUT him as a spirit rather than in physical terms.

Maybe things would be more real for me if I started to think of him differently. Perhaps by focusing on what he is doing right now, I might better grasp the idea that he is a physical being which makes it easier to understand and appreciate him. Jesus isn’t a concept; he’s my friend who understands and loves me like no other.

Seriously, this is something that really hasn’t been clicking for me. Jesus is a builder. Of course he created the universe, but I can’t even begin to understand that. He’s also a carpenter. That I can understand. I’ve done some of this work. It’s hard. You get sweaty – and cold! You get callouses and slivers. You get sore muscles and tired from a long day at work.

I wonder how that looks. I built a home and got to enjoy watching and even participating in the process. I would imagine he has people helping him. Unless he speaks it into creation, it will take a long time to prepare all the rooms in heaven! There are a lot of people in heaven now, perhaps they are working on it, too. But, on second thought, they are spirit, all except Enoch and Elijah and Jesus. Hmmm. Can spirits build a house? Well, I guess we see angels doing all sorts of stuff in the bible, so I suppose they can build a house, too. And if angels can, so can the spirits of the saints that are in heaven. At least I think they can.

I wonder if Bezalel and Oholiab are involved with my room. That would be cool. Remember, they were the dudes who built the tent of meeting in Moses’ time. Those two were really good with their hands! Then again, they were filled with the Holy Spirit, so I suppose anyone involved in heaven will be good at it. Still, it’s fun to think that some folks will be really, really good at certain things. Perhaps Bezalel and Oholiab could at least swing by my site and give the crew a few ideas. Maybe Jesus himself is directing it?

That’s what Jesus is doing right now. Building my room in our Father’s house. I wonder if he’s done with it yet? I wonder what it looks like? Does it have cool stuff in it? I think it would be neat to have a working model of the solar system so I can study how the axis of the earth affects our view of the sky throughout the year. That would take a pretty big room for that. I wonder how big my room will be? Jesus says he’s building a place for me. Maybe that means a separate building, like a home. Is that what he means? I don’t know, but it’s fun to think about it.

That’s not all that Jesus is doing. He’s also interceding for us. What does that mean? To intervene on behalf of another. Does that mean he’s the guy that’s preventing Satan from having me sent to hell? I suppose it does. Maybe it means more than that, too. Maybe it’s simply answering our prayers. Yeah, I think that’s a lot of what Jesus is doing in heaven right now.

John 14:13 ¹³ Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.

See? And it’s important that we ask because then our Father is glorified in the Son. We want that to happen, don’t we? I know, that sounds funny, but we should be serious and intentional about this. We have a direct part in glorifying God by asking Jesus to answer prayer. In that light, we have a responsibility. Did you ever think about it this way? I guess I haven’t until now. Hmmm. I’m going to have to start really thinking about this more.

I guess that’s the whole point. Jesus isn’t an abstract concept. He’s real. He’s flesh and blood. Glorified, but he still has a body; and that body is in heaven. He’s building our home and is answering our prayers. I have much more reason to be thinking of these things than I do.

Oh, yeah, he’s coming back for me. He really is. Maybe even today. Perhaps my room is ready after all!

Father, thank you. One simple bible passage can change the course of my entire day – and life! I really want to start thinking of things this way, more personably. And with you, too, Father. And the Holy Spirit, as well. I want my life to be and experience with you, to walk with you. Amen.