Going to get Matthew

On Monday morning I sat down at my desk and received an email letting me know that we can finally bring Matthew home from Ethiopia. The first date to get him was only 2 days away, so we chose the second which is for next week. Naturally we are all very excited, but we are also a bit frantic trying to make preparations for his arrival. This week we bought his new bed at Wal-Mart, continued working on our home addition (thanks to my friend Jeremy) and are trying to dry out the basement which flooded (thanks to my friend Irene). My wife has already placed Matthew’s picture around our home so that he will immediately feel a part of the family when he arrives. We want him to feel like he has always been here.

In all of our preparations, I could not help thinking that as God’s adopted children he is making preparations for us.

When Jesus is telling his disciples that he is going to be leaving them, they are very sad about it. Here is what he tells them to bring them some comfort (John 14:1-3 NLT):

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

So we should take heart. In this world filled with many trials and troubling things, God is preparing for your arrival as His adopted child. He has an incredible home for you, one where you get to be in the presence of Jesus. One of the rooms has your name on the door. He has your picture on his wall. He thinks about you every single day. He has wonderful things for you, and he doesn’t shop at Wal-Mart.

Have you thought about it this way?