Mone. It seems the Greek word is only used twice in the Bible. Both times used by John in his gospel. Both times used in John 14. Once to speak of a heavenly anticipation. Once to speak of an earthly reality. Once to provide hope for the future. Once to assure strength for the day. Reminded this morning that when it comes to being at home with the Lord, now on earth as will be in heaven.

Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word, and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

(John 14:23 ESV)

Jesus is preparing to depart, but He says He’ll send “another Helper” — a Counselor and a Comforter, an Advocate ready, willing, and able to draw alongside. He says He is going to go and prepare a place for His disciples in His Father’s house, a house where there are many rooms, or abiding places, or homes (mone). Yet, Jesus says, until those who follow Him are taken to be with Him and inhabit that heavenly home, the Father, through the Son, by the Spirit will make Their home (mone) with them. On earth as in heaven.

Resting this morning in the promises. A promise that one day soon we will be at home with the Lord. At home in paradise. At home in a heavenly city occupying heavenly space prepared in advance for those who love the heavenly Builder. There is a sense in which each day’s sojourn, though often weighty and wearying, is ultimately about making our way home. Weighty and wearying because this world ain’t paradise. This earth ain’t no heavenly city. Yet, even here and now, able to rest this morning because, while going home, we’re at home.

We’ve heard it said, “Home is where the heart is.” But if I’m picking up what the Savior is laying down, home is where the Triune God is.

“We will come to him and make Our home with him.”

While the Son is preparing your mone so you can be where He is, We — the Father and the Son through the Spirit — will make Our mone with you. We’re moving in. We’re staying. We’re settling down. We’re abiding. Make some room, your dwelling is our Our dwelling. You casa Our casa.

Really? Almighty God making His home with mere mortals? Yeah, really.

Wandering? Weighty? Wearying? You bet.

Alone? Not in a million years (and that’s just a start).

Don’t fully get it but, on the authority of God’s word, I’ve fully got it.

At home. On earth as in heaven.

By God’s grace. For God’s glory.