THERE IS A PLACE FOR YOU
There is a story in 2 Kings about a great woman who invited the prophet Elisha into her home to eat when he passed through her town, Shunem (2 Kings Chapter 4).
When she understood that he was a holy man of God she prepared a room in her home for him. Whenever Elisha came to Shunem he had somewhere to stay.
From this time on the woman’s life changed forever. Her life was full of miracles and God’s provisions.
Firstly Elisha promised her a son. Her husband was old and it seemed impossible. She had this child as promised and she experienced the joy of raising her own child. Then tragedy struck and the child suddenly died. Elisha prayed and he was raised from the dead.
She went on to have a rich and abundant life. All was not smooth sailing though. After losing and regaining her son she experienced the loss of her home and everything she owned through famine. All this and more was restored to her by another miracle.
When Jesus was on earth he said of himself “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests, but the son of man hath not where to lay his head (Matthew 8:20). This was because of the separation between man and his God caused by sin.
Jesus has prepared a place for YOU. Have you prepared a place for HIM?
Jesus came to reverse that situation. He said “…..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 may be also (John 14:2-3).
Where did Jesus go? He went to death and the grave and then he rose triumphant from the dead. He ascended into Heaven where he received of the Father the Holy Spirit which he sent to his disciples.
The place he prepared is not some faraway place in the sky but, as Jesus said, it is the place where he is with his Father. Through the death of Jesus, the penalty for sin was paid and a way was made for us to enter this incredible state where we become the mansions – God’s dwelling place. Before sin was dealt with, Jesus had no place in this world to dwell “….the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.” (Luke 9:58, Acts 7:48-49).
The gift of the Holy Spirit (also called the Spirit of Adoption) (Romans 8:15) brings people into the same relationship and communion with the Father that Jesus enjoys.
He said “if a man loves me he will keep my words, and my father will love him, and we will come into him, and make our abode with him.” (John 14:23).
God will not come into our lives uninvited. Just as Elisha was invited into the Shunemite woman’s home we need to invite him into our lives. God also requires us to “keep his word” and make a place for him. The woman made sure that the room was prepared and suitable for her honoured guest.
What must we do to prepare a place for him? The answer is simply stated by the Apostle Peter in Acts 2:38, “Repent and be baptised every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remissions of sins and you will receive the gift of the Holy Ghost…”.
Just like the Shunemite woman, we can then expect a life of miracles, provision, challenges, and overcoming. Jesus said, “…I come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10).
Jesus has prepared a place for you. Have you prepared a place for Him?