A Place Prepared

Sometimes Kids Church ends up correlating with a previous conversation I’ve had during the week with our kids, or something we’ve read during our bedtime routine of devotionals, Bible and prayer. This last week I had been reading in John 14, and one of the conversation topics that came up was about what heaven would be like. Often with younger kids it’s filled with questions of whether a certain fantastical invention or physics-defying ability be what we get to experience in heaven, which I often respond ‘I’m not sure!’ And relay the information that I know—that there won’t be pain, tears, death or sin, that there is beauty and safety and ultimately it’s about relationship with Jesus, and maybe similar to what the experience in the garden was before the fall. With an age-range of 2-12, the olders often process a bit of the complexity, questions about topics like risk, knowledge, pragmatic nuance. I process the questions through the scaffold of scripture and the God’s revealed character and nature, this time commenting a bit in light of how Jesus has gone to ‘prepare a place’ for us. I asked them if we get rewards in heaven, which scripture clearly says we do, specific to the act. I explained that although we cannot earn our way into heaven and that’s only through what Jesus has done, the things we get to do on earth in light of our salvation may reflect the joys we experience in heaven.

“Imagine Billy Graham, and how many people became Christians because of hearing him but that he never met personally. I imagine in heaven, Billy’s ‘place’ will include the opportunity to see and experience the impacts of his preaching.”

Likewise, Jesus promises that even if we merely give a cup of cold water to a child, we will experience a reward. The idea of our ‘place’ that Jesus prepares being reflective of our unique actions lines up with God’s justice, and his promise that we will reap what we sow. We spoke about the rich man and Lazarus (the poor beggar) who uniquely received ‘comfort’ in response to the suffering he had while on earth. And the thief on the cross, who had little time to build up a heavenly investment portfolio, Jesus promised would be with Him in paradise. And just a thought on God’s amazing ability to take the loaves and fishes we have and multiply them infinitely: how many people over the last 2000 years have been touched, encouraged, brought to faith through, the testimony of that man’s profession of faith! I imagine that, by God’s grace, that man’s ‘place’ in heaven is filled abundantly—even now, this very moment, encouraging me and, hopefully, you, the reader!

Well Kids Church ended up reflecting this very idea. As the kids entered the room, we did ‘My Father’s House’ for worship, which had been in my head for a few days prior—thank you Holy Spirit!—and our opener question was whether anyone has ever been invited somewhere that had a place prepared for them. Most everyone had been on a vacation where a room was set up, beds made, things cleaned, even food ready to go. Everyone had been to a table where a place was set up for them. Everyone had experienced someone anticipating their coming and intentionally prepared something for them. I told them that, likewise, Jesus has prepared a place for us, which is what we’d be talking about today, and I then invited the children to enter the neighboring classroom for the surprise: a ‘last supper’ table set up with a place for each child. On the table at each place were paper plates, an empty cup, and in the middle of the table, some grape vines bearing fruit that I had cut off our arbor that morning. The kids each sat down, and I informed them that although there was no prepared feast (which I felt a little bad about), that they were welcome to try some of the little grapes.

We covered a lot of ground. After reading John 14:2, we drew on the paper plates what we think what the place being prepared for us by Jesus might look like. We talked about bearing fruit for Jesus, reading from John 15 how abiding in him is like the branch being connected to the vine, and how the grapes need to continue to receive nourishment in order to grow bigger, and the non-producing branches need pruning for more and better fruit to be produced. We talked about Jesus' command to love each other—how Jesus modeled that very night by washing his disciples feet—was the example that was set, and we each had the opportunity to ‘wash’ one another’s hand’s with a baby wipe (or paper towel for those with allergies). And finally, the opportunity was given to invest in their heavenly ‘place’ even now by giving a cup of cold water to a friend by filling their own empty cup and giving it to another. After praying, a volunteer from the 3-5 year old class next door came over with a box of popsicles, which was amazing and unexpected provision. God’s just amazing. Thank you Jesus!

Friend, the place Jesus prepares for us, I am reminded, is completely by His grace. The very act of being able to experience and perform the tasks that allow us to experience whatever reward He has planned is all His doing—He is both the object of our investment, the broker facilitating the transaction, and the base on which the currency has its value. Everything is For Him and held together By Him. All that is required, really, is a desire, which He has designed us to have and respond to through the preached gospel. Even before 'do you believe?', it's, 'Do you want to believe?' If so, He can work with that.

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