John 14:1-3 — Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.

Today’s rather obvious thoughts have to start with a pretty shameful confession. Recently Myra and I have been enjoying watching the shows on HGTV. There. I said it. You might not know the shows unless you share our shameful secret, but they are mostly about people buying — and sometimes remodeling — houses.
Tonight there were shows about people moving to the Caribbean, people moving to Napa Valley … looking for their dream homes.
Somehow, what we were watching connected with some thoughts I had during my quiet time this morning. I can’t remember the train of thought that led to it, but I was thinking of the story of the rich man and Lazarus. We find the story in Luke 16:19–31. The rich man lives a really nice life, but ends in hell. Lazarus doesn’t have a nice life, but ends in Heaven. The rich man appeals to Abraham to have Lazarus cool his tongue … And Abraham drops the hammer — “But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented.” (Luke 16:25)
That put me in mind of some people I know who would surely say they have dream homes … but sadly they are — how shall I put it — less generous than they might be.
When these thoughts chased each other around in my head eventually they settled around the conclusion that maybe chasing the dream home is not really the most Christian of ideals.
Then again, maybe chasing a dream home is a really Christian ideal — as long as you pick the right builder!
Jesus promises that there will be dream homes for all — or at least, for all who trust in God, and His son.
Now it’s easy for me to talk. After all, I live in a house that works pretty well as a dream home for me. It might only be a modest two bedroom two bathroom house … but it’s the nicest home I have ever owned, and all I can imagine Myra and me ever needing. All the same the thought process made me wonder … Can you put too much into your earthly home, and not enough into heavenly real estate?