A New Zealand chief, remarkable for the deep spirituality of his mind and his constant delight in the Word of God, visited here a few years ago. One day he was taken to see a beautiful mansion. The gentleman who took him expected to find him greatly astonished, and much charmed with its magnificence and splendor, but it seemed, to his surprise, to excite little or no admiration in his mind. Wondering how this could be, he began to point out to him its grandeur, the beauty of the costly furniture —brought from all parts of the world—the view from the windows, etc. Tamana heard all silently; then looking round upon the walls, replied, “Ah my Father’s house finer than this.”
“Your father’s house,” thought the gentleman, who knew his father’s home was but a poor mud cottage. But Tamahana went on, “My Father’s house finer than this:” and began to speak, in his own expressive, touching strain, of the house above—the house of “many mansions” —the eternal home of the redeemed. John 14.
ML 09/16/1945