Our House Is From Heaven

For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed upon with our house which is from heaven, 2 Corinthians 5:2

Our house - abode - is not in heaven. It is from heaven.

Yet she on earth hath union
with the God the Three in One,
and mystic sweet communion
with those whose rest is won:

For the Son, His house was His Father’s house. That is where He was about His Father’s business.  God does not live in a house - His house is the realm of His divine activity. It is not a place - it is a domain. That is, it is without walls. 

And He said to them, "Why is it that you were looking for Me? Did you not know that I had to be in My Father's house?" NASB (Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” NKJV) Luke 2:29 

Henry Blackaby has taught the Body of Christ to “look and see what the Father is doing and join Him there.”  When we are about what our Father is doing then we are clothed by His house which is from heaven.

We long to be clothed with His presence which makes us fit for His service - right now! His presence is the place of His sphere of action.

When I receive a call on my mobile from my wife’s mobile phone it comes up “Home.”  That is because, where she is is where my home is. So it is with our Father - when we receive a call from Him that is where our home is.

You didn't want heaven without us
So Jesus, You brought heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now

John 14:2 is not about some ethereal place in the sweet by and by and certainly not a mansion1 (Who would want one anyway?) - it is about a very real relationship in the here and now. The word is “to abide” and is only used in one other place in the New Testament - "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode (home) with him.” John 14:23 

“Father, I desire that they also, whom You have given Me, be with Me where I am, so that they may see My glory which You have given Me, for You loved Me before the foundation of the world.” John 17:24   Where was He at this very time? In the present Presence of His Father. And that is where He was going to take them - and us - into the present Presence of the Father. 


And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. John 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am.  “I will come” is in the present tense - not the future.

Glorious things of thee are spoken,
Zion, city of our God;
he whose word cannot be broken
formed thee for his own abode;
John Newton 

Not only is our dwelling in Him - but His dwelling is also in us. His house is not made of bricks and mortar - but of lively stones being built up into a spiritual house.  "The spiritual house is the palace of the Great King.” ‘All history is the process of building up a "spiritual palace" out of a regenerate humanity, in order that, in the end, the Father Himself may occupy it.’ Charles Ellicott   


1The KJV word “mansion” is better translated as plenty of room or a great expanse. Some version say “many rooms” but that is also misleading for there are no walls or curtains in the House of God - for the veil has been torn in twain.