My husband and I are planning a trip to England — an exciting trip for us. We'll be celebrating my mother's 90th birthday and staying in my old hometown. It will be a special time because it's also our wedding anniversary, and there will be an early Christmas celebration, the first I've spent with my English family in almost fifty years.

While there, we're also planning a trip to the city of Liverpool. In 1909, my husband's grandfather departed on board Lusitania to make a new home in Canada. We'll visit the docks and the street where he and his brother had their blacksmith business. Being baby-boomers, we'll also visit the Beatles' museum and the Cavern Club where the group entertained before they became famous. Their music played a big part in our lives, on both sides of the Atlantic.

We booked our flight, and we're awaiting the train tickets to go on sale. We pored over a map of Liverpool to locate a hotel that was near the railway station and close to the places that we want to visit. After comparing hotel accommodations online, we checked the rate of exchange, and reserved and paid for our room. Confirmation arrived the next day.

It's reassuring to know that even though it's more than 3,000 miles away, and still several weeks away, our confirmation of booking proves that our room is paid for. It will be ready and waiting, and we'll be welcomed when we arrive.

More important is that we also have a reservation in heaven! Jesus paid for it Himself!

John 14:2 – 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? (NIV 2011)

We can see our destination described in the last two chapters of Revelation. The Holy City was revealed to the apostle John. He saw its walls decorated with every kind of precious stone. He saw the great street of gold, a river flowing down the middle, and on each side of it the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, one each month. When we arrive, our rooms will be ready and waiting for us. Jesus said so. He wouldn't tell us if it were not true.

Have you made your reservation yet? Are you certain of it? Or are you hoping or assuming that there's a place for you? Millions believe that if they attend church or if they live a good life, then they'll go to heaven. The Bible tells us that many will be disappointed. Jesus said, "Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you.'" (Matthew 7:23a NIV 2011) But if we give our life and plans to Jesus, we'll be sure that our booking is confirmed!

Prayer: Father in heaven, we look forward to spending eternity with You in our new home. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit and enlarge our vision so we will know beyond a doubt that we have confirmation of booking. Thank You that Jesus, the Master Builder, has prepared a place for us, and that He's paid for it Himself. Amen.

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About the author:

JJ Ollerenshaw <sandjollie86@gmail.com>
Belleville, Ontario, Canada
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