“Abby, what was your favorite Christmas present of all time?” That was the question I had for my middle daughter as she walked through the living room one night. With no hesitation, she said, “My Barbie Dreamhouse!” Instantly, vivid memories flooded my mind of shopping for the Barbie Dreamhouse, purchasing the huge toy, and assembling the many pieces of it after she went to bed Christmas Eve. I’ll never forget her face when she saw it on Christmas morning. She was so excited! The three story mansion had a garage for the Barbie convertible, an elevator, and a slide from the third story into the second story pool! Abby spent hours playing with all her Barbie dolls, and a few that were her grandmothers as well.

I remember playing with her and thinking, “This is nice toy mansion. I wonder what kind of house we will have in heaven? What kind of home did Jesus live in while He was on the earth?” Jesus didn’t live in an extravagant home at all. The King of Kings did not have a mansion. In fact, Jesus said, “Foxes have holes and birds have the sky, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head” (Luke 9:58; Matthew 8:20). Jesus lived in a variety of places. He is eternal and lived in heaven with God before coming to this earth (John 17:5). In Luke 2, we see Jesus was born in a stable and about two years later, we see in Matthew 2 the Magi found him living in a house with Joseph and Mary. Jesus was born in Bethlehem, lived in Egypt, Nazareth, Capernaum, and even spent time in Jerusalem. At times, He even stayed with friends in Bethany, just outside Jerusalem. After His death and resurrection, Jesus ascended back to the right hand of God in heaven (Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 8:1). Jesus didn’t live in a Barbie Dreamhouse or anything close to it. He most likely didn’t own a home of His own during His ministry.

Scripture seems to indicate that in heaven we don’t actually live in separate mansions on streets of gold as some may think but with the family of God, dwelling with God with multitudes worshipping around the throne of God (Revelation 7:9). John 14:2-3 says we will live in God’s house that has many rooms. The point is not the mansion, but abiding eternally in the presence of God, all made possible by Jesus coming to the earth and dying for our sins on the cross. Jesus, being fully God and fully man, had a temporary home on this earth so He could prepare for us an eternal home in heaven.

Question: When you die, will your home be in heaven? How do you know? John 14:6 says Jesus is the only way to heaven. Have you asked Jesus to save you so you can one day live with Him eternally in heaven?

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stephenrharrison

Stephen and his wife Haley have called Arkansas home all of their lives. Stephen has served in several ministry roles over the last 25 years and as a lead pastor for the last 8 years. Stephen attended Williams Baptist College and earned a BA in Biblical Studies from Ouachita Baptist University, an MA, MDiv, and DMin in Christian Leadership and Pastoral Ministries from Liberty University. When not pastoring, Stephen enjoys running, cycling, reading, writing, camping, fishing, and spending time with his family.