"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." - (Jn. 14:1-3).

A sick man turned to his doctor as he was leaving the room after paying a visit, and said, "Doctor, I'm afraid to die. Tell me what lies on the other side." Very quietly the doctor said, "I don't know." "You don't know? You, a Christian man, don't know what's on the other side?" The doctor was holding the handle of the door; from the other side came the sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, "Did you notice that dog? He had never been in this room before. He didn't know what was inside. He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened he sprang in without fear. I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing: I know my Master is there, and that is enough. And when the door opens, I will pass through with no fear, but gladness."

There's not a whole lot of information the Bible gives us about heaven. But it does tell us that it's a great place to be. Just as hell is a place to avoid at all costs, so heaven is a place to be sought with every energy. There are many mysteries about heaven that can't be answered this side of eternity, but the one thing we are assured of is that it's better than anything we know here. And we also know that it's where Jesus is, and He wants us to be with Him. So, when death comes, the Christian can face it with assurance knowing that when the door opens to that final dwelling place the Master will be there to receive us - and that's enough.

Lonnie Ritchie
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