In Honor of Brother Charles Langston

John 14:1-3 “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.  In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Jesus was specific in bringing comfort to His disciples. He wanted to ease the troubled minds of those who had sacrificed all to follow Him. He knew He was destined to leave them shortly, but He desired they have an understanding or a firm assurance of the purpose behind Him leaving.

The place that He went to prepare for them was a paradise based on decision, discovery, and destiny.

-Their Decision to follow Him changed their belief system. Fear was replaced with faith, death would lose its sting, and their troubled hearts would be calmed by their belief in Jesus.

-Their Discovery of what awaited them was transformational. Jesus was going away, but He had a purpose in mind. That was to prepare a place for them to be with Him forever. It was that discovery of what was waiting on them that helped bring the message of transformation to the whole world.

-Their Destiny was foretold. Jesus said that He would come back and rapture them from this world so that they could live with Him in those mansions that He had prepared.

What a powerful story is told in these three verses. A story of how one decision can change your life for eternity, how you can discover what awaits you after death, and a destiny fulfilled by being absent from this life and eternally with the Lord.

Charles Langston experienced all these things just as Jesus promised all who believe would receive.

-Brother Charles made a decision to follow Jesus. In the 5 years I was his pastor I saw a man whose decision to follow Jesus was not detoured by pain, suffering, or the failures of his natural body. He was a good soldier of the cross, willing to endure hardships until the Lord sent His angels to take his spirit home.

-Brother Charles discovered a peace that passes all understanding, one that cannot be comprehended by the minds of mortal men. It was that peace that brought him through the difficulties he faced and helped him trust God when others would have given up. He held on to that peace when he crossed from this life into eternity and now he is at peace, healed and whole, in that promised mansion.

-Lastly, Brother Charles destiny was fulfilled just a few days ago when the Lord said to him, “Charles, you’ve fought a good fight and you’ve kept the faith. It’s time to receive your reward.” His destiny had a happy beginning because he is praising His Lord in the throne room on high.

Charles Langston was not afraid of dying because he knew where he was going. It was that blessed assurance that ushered him into the presence of angelic beings stationed around the throne. It was that amazing grace that took away all his pain and suffering and made him whole. It is that wonderful peace he is basking in today at the feet of Jesus. His body is not troubled anymore, but he is home with his Savior.