JOHN 13:36, "Simon Peter said unto him, 'Lord, whither goest thou?' Jesus answered him, 'Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; but thou shalt follow me afterwards.'"

This verse is filled with exciting words, filled with promise. Jesus was speaking about His crucifixion, and the fact that He would be transitioning from His ministry on earth, to His ministry in Heaven.  The Apostle Peter, being an ardent follower of Christ was intent on learning exactly where it was that Jesus was going, so that He could go with Him.  It is was always sad to hear the words that you couldn't go, when you would like to go.  Yet it wasn't time for Peter to join Christ in Heaven.  But, listen to the words of Christ at the end of the verse, "Whither I go, thou canst not follow me now; BUT THOU SHALT FOLLOW ME AFTERWARDS."  Jesus told His disciples, "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. AND IF I GO AND PREPARE A PLACE FOR YOU, I WILL COME AGAIN, AND RECEIVE YOU UNTO MYSELF; THAT WHERE I AM, THERE YE MAYBE ALSO."  (John 14:2-3)  You see, the excitement in the words, and the promise, are all found in the truth that one day, in the future, I am going to spend eternity with Jesus!  And, so too, will everyone who knows Christ as their personal Savior.  1 Thessalonians 4:17 states, "...and so shall we ever be with the Lord."  2 Corinthians 5:8 states, "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord."

How exciting to know that when you die as a believer, you are immediately ushered into the presence of God. And how exciting is it to know at the rapture of what Paul reminds us in Philippians 3:20-21, "For our conversation (citizenship) is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: 21Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."

Have a great day resting in the Savior, and rejoice in knowing where you are going.

Your Friend and His,

-- 

Pastor Mike Abbott