Trust and believe that the Lord has not and will not abandon you. He has ascended to prepare a home for you. His ascension is a promise that he will one day take you home to himself. This Ascension Day, keep your ears open for the good news on the street: “Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:3-4).

“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?” (John 14:2)

Most of the homeless people in our city are within walking distance from my house. One of the things I have learned interacting with these neighbours is that homelessness is hell.

The reasons for homelessness are varied, but the experience of homelessness is always the same. It is punishing; it grinds people down. A number of people in our church have experienced homelessness, some for years, some on and off. Those who have been there never ever want to experience it again. Homelessness is hell.

Which brings us to the ascension. On the eve of his death, Jesus’ disciples were really upset (John 14:1,27) and felt like they were being abandoned (vs 18). To comfort them, Jesus promises that he will ascend to heaven to prepare a home for them (vs 2).

We were studying this passage at our Bible study. I made the rather vague comment: “Isn’t it great that Jesus ascends to prepare a place for us.” From the back of the room, a young woman (we’ll call her Nancy) pipes up: “Yeah, cause otherwise we would be homeless!”

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