John 14:2 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.
John 14:3 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.
1. GOD HAS THE RIGHT TO CREATE PLACES OF GOODNESS AND PLACES OF JUDGMENT.
A. COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN PUT INTO PLACES OF JUDGMENT WHEN THEY PUSH GOD AWAY. SOME PLACES CHANGE.
Ezekiel 26:5 It shall be a place for the spreading of nets in the midst of the sea: for I have spoken it, saith the Lord GOD: and it shall become a spoil to the nations.
B. THERE NEEDS TO BE A PLACE FOR GOD IN YOUR LIFE.
SINCE HE IS TRULY YOUR CREATOR HE SHOULD BE THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON IN THE UNIVERSE, HE DESERVES TO HAVE THE HIGHEST PRIORITY IN YOUR LIFE.
Psalm 132:1-5 A Song of degrees. LORD, remember David, and all his afflictions: How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob; Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed; I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids, Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
C. GOD MADE A GOOD PLACE FOR YOU IN HIS CREATION. HE MADE A PLACE FOR HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE, ISRAEL.
1 Chronicles 17:9 Also I will ordain a place for my people Israel, and will plant them, and they shall dwell in their place, and shall be moved no more; neither shall the children of wickedness waste them any more, as at the beginning
D. HE MADE A SPECIAL PLACE FOR THE GENTILES.
Acts 17:26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; Psalms 74:17 Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter.
2. GOD HAS MADE BOTH PHYSICAL AND SOCIAL PLACES.
A. HE MADE A SPECIAL PLACE FOR CHILDREN.
A PLACE NOT ONLY REFERS TO A PHYSICAL LOCATION, BUT ALSO A PLACE IN SOCIAL STANDING. (Many in the past recognized and taught that “children are to be seen and not heard.” Today, children rule, and this is not Biblical.)
Ephesians 6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. (Sent to the church, not all people, so it applies to saved households.
B. HE MADE A PLACE FOR EVERYONE TO SERVE GOD.
2 Chronicles 35:1 Moreover Josiah kept a passover unto the LORD in Jerusalem: and they killed the passover on the fourteenth day of the first month.
2 Chronicles 35:10 So the service was prepared, and the priests stood in their place, and the Levites in their courses, according to the king’s commandment.
C. HE MADE A NEW PLACE FOR YOU TO BE SPIRITUALLY ON EARTH ONCE YOU ARE SAVED.
LEAVE THE OLD STATUS BEHIND, AND REACH TOWARD THE NEW PLACE WHICH IS BEFORE GOD. IF WE LOOK FORWARD TO A BETTER PLACE IN OUR LIVES NOW, WE MUST LEAVE BEHIND THE OLD PLACE.
Exodus 13:3 And Moses said unto the people, Remember this day, in which ye came out from Egypt, out of the house of bondage; for by strength of hand the LORD brought you out from this place: there shall no leavened bread be eaten.
D. GOD MADE A REAL PLACE FOR YOU IN HEAVEN IF YOU ARE HIS CHILD.
John 14:2-3 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.
3. SOME PLACES LACK APPEAL TO NORMAL PEOPLE.
Sadly, many never hear about them because the world has kept them so busy.
A. THERE ARE PLACES ON EARTH GOD HAS SINGLED OUT FOR GREATER JUDGMENT.
Genesis 19:12-14 And the men said unto Lot, Hast thou here any besides? son in law, and thy sons, and thy daughters, and whatsoever thou hast in the city, bring them out of this place: For we will destroy this place, because the cry of them is waxen great before the face of the LORD; and the LORD hath sent us to destroy it. And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law.
B. THERE IS A LITERAL, REAL PLACE OF TORMENT.
Matthew 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:
C. JUDAS HAD A PLACE, JUST AS YOU HAVE A PLACE. DON’T LET THE PLACE OF JUDAS BE YOURS.
Acts 1:25 That he may take part of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas by transgression fell, that he might go to his own place.
D. THE RICH MAN TESTIFIED OF IT.
Luke 16:28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment.