"For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked" (Psalm 73:3).

When we consider the activities of King Ahab, Jezebel's husband, we are disheartened at how he followed evil. His disregard for Jehovah was one reason his subjects in Israel suffered from years of famine. Even after the demonstration of God's power on Mount Carmel, he still mocked God's prophet Micaiah (1 Kings 22:15).

Now Ahab was very rich in worldly possessions. According to 1 Kings 22:39, Ahab built cities and for his own living quarters, an ivory palace. Now ivory comes from elephants and was a precious commodity even as it is our time. But he had enough to build a magnificent building.

"Now the rest of the acts of Ahab, and all that he did, and the ivory house which he made, and all the cities that he built..." (1 Kings 22:39). Ahab was killed in a battle against the Syrians in spite of God's prophet warning him not to go. And guess what? He doesn't have that ivory palace even more. For dead men leave every thing behind.

According to Philippians 2:6-11, Jesus left His glorious dwelling in Heaven. However, unlike Ahab, He left it willingly because He loved us so. Jesus was equal with God in every way. But the apostle says that He didn't wish to hold on to that status. He humbled Himself and became human so that He could taste death for every man. He's enjoying His eternal exaltation now. We know He's at the right hand of the throne of God. In Acts 2 Peter says He's arisen to sit on His throne (Acts 2:30).

"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of [things] in heaven, and [things] in earth, and [things] under the earth; And [that] every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ [is] Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (Philippians 2:9-11).

According to Hebrews 1:8, "But unto the Son [he saith], Thy throne, O God, [is] for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness [is] the sceptre of thy kingdom." The full context of this prophecy is in Psalms 45:6-8. The passage continues in verse 8 (NKJV): "All Your garments are scented with myrrh and aloes and cassia, Out of the ivory palaces, by which they have made You glad. " There's a hymn "Out of the Ivory Palaces, into a world of woe." Jesus in back Home at the heavenly ivory palaces but with the added glory that the Father has given to Him because He died for us. Unlike Ahab whose death separated him from his ivory palace, Jesus' death brought Him back to His ivory palaces.

Now, here is the important part. Jesus says in John 14 then that He's going to prepare a place for His apostles. I understand that that will apply to you and me IF we belong to Christ. He's preparing a place for you and me. He wants His disciples to be where He is. "...that where I am, [there] ye may be also" (John 14:3).

Where is Jesus? He's on His throne and He's dwelling in His ivory palaces. Plural. The King James Version says, "many mansions." There's enough for you and me. And Jesus said that He wants me to be where He is. Therefore, He's preparing a place for you and me.

What is our requirement. You and I must be His disciples. He's returning for His own and He's uniting them with those that are already sleeping in Jesus (1 Thessalonians 4:14-18). "Then we which are alive [and] remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

"Jesus answered and said unto him, 'If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him'" (John 14:23).

If we would dwell with Jesus in the Heavenly palaces, we must invite the Father and Jesus to dwell with us spiritually here during our sojourn on earth. It doesn't require that we are rich or poor, prosperous or penniless. The Father and Jesus dwell with those that love Jesus and keep His words.

Love Jesus and keep His commandments faithfully so that we may have a palace more precious than those of the kings of the earth.

- Gaylon West

Throw Out the Lifeline

www.BibleStudyLessons.net