Save My Place

I go to prepare a place for you…” John 14.2

I was reading some old letters and one reminded me of a story I had forgotten. When our children were still quite young, we were singing at the piano. The song was, “Only a Sinner.” When we got to the last line of the chorus, “I’m only a sinner, saved by grace,” one of our children loudly sang, “I only a sinner. SAVE MY PLACE.” Sometimes, what we say by mistake is more powerfully true than what we say on purpose.

How good to know that WE SINNERS HAVE A PLACE. We are not shut out by reason of our sin. When we leave this place, we have another, a better place to which we go.

How good to know that THIS PLACEI S PREPARED BY THE SON OF GOD. A good place must have a good architect. Our architect is God, as it is written, “He was looking for the city which has foundations whose architect and builder is God.”

How good to know that THIS PLACE IS PART OF THE FATHER’S HOUSEHOLD. Our place is not in the prison of punishment or even a “log cabin in the corner of glory.” Our place is the best place: the Father’s house! We will live there, not as slaves, but as sons.

How good to know that THIS PLACE IS SAVED FOR US BY THE SON OF GOD. 1 Peter 1.4 tells us of our inheritance which is kept for us in heaven. This place is not of this world, so it is not subject to anything in this world. All the riches of this life fade away, or we fade away and lose the use of them. But this glorious inheritance is beyond the reach of the effects of our great sin. It is guarded and preserved forever by no less than the Sovereign of the Universe.

I’m only a sinner, O, Lord God, save my place! -Joe Terrell