 John 14:2
“In my Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you.”
 I worked at The Sheraton Civic Center Hotel (now known as Sheraton Birmingham) from April 1992 through February 1996. It’s amazing the things you learn being employed in the hotel industry.
I recall one time when the hotel was overbooked for a large conference. Several guests were very upset to find out that upon their arrival (late in the evening I might add), they did not have a room. The part that was most disturbing was that the guests had booked their room months in advance to be “guaranteed for late arrival.” To “guarantee” a reservation one must provide a credit card number to hold the room. If the person did not reserve his room with a credit card, the possibility of not having a room might possibly occur, especially, in the event of a “sell-out” situation.
Interestingly, there were two sets of rules. If one called to reserve a room and made the choice to guarantee with a credit card, the following stipulation also applied:
If the guest failed to cancel the reservation and did not show up (for whatever reason), the guest was penalized with one night’s charge for the room plus occupancy tax – which would be conveniently applied to his credit card.
 Can you imagine the reaction of the aforementioned guests as they had flown into Birmingham, paid for a cab or rental car, arrived at the hotel late in the evening, exhausted from travel, only to be discover that their “guaranteed room” was really not guaranteed?
Apparently, the “guaranteed late arrival” was not the perfect system.
When Jesus shared with His disciples of His impending death, He had a special guarantee for them. Jesus promised a custom-made home in Heaven when it was their time to leave this life. Until then, His Holy Spirit was guaranteed to dwell in them….the Holy Spirit was the credit card that wouldn’t expire.
This promise was not just for the disciples who walked with Him more than 2000 years ago. This guarantee belongs to anyone who accepts Jesus as Savior! Once our name is written in the Lamb’s Book of Life (Rev 21:27), our reservation is secure. We don’t have to worry about checking in–our reservation is sealed. And, until then, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit as a deposit.
Because of the CROSS and the PERFECT SACRIFICE of JESUS CHRIST, our reservation was guaranteed and pre-paid! Nothing in our world will ever compare to what HE has waiting for us.
So remember, when you’re feeling discouraged with what the world has to offer…..your perfect world awaits you! Jesus is the only perfect system!
We are not supposed to be comfortable now……..if we are completely fulfilled with the “here and now” we might need to consider an inventory of the heart.
GOD HAS A GUARANTEE….
 THE LIGHT NEVER GOES OUT IN HIS HOTEL….
HEAVEN AWAITS US….
OUR RESERVATION IS ETERNALLY SECURE….
 HE HAS GIVEN US THE KEY….JESUS CHRIST!
SUSIE MC
|
