A Picture Of Home Series

"If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this one" (Mere Christianity).

For the most part, we believe that it exists. Books, movies, songs, poems, art, and other mediums have been used to communicate to us that Heaven exists. We condemningly speak of Heaven as a reward to avoid the punishment of Hell to the impenitent. Very few sermons are now preached about Heaven. I agree with the great Christian apologist, C. S. Lewis, we have stopped thinking about Heaven and thereby have become useless and ineffective in this world.

Polls say that 78% of Americans believe that they are going to Heaven even though they don’t attend church, pray, or read their Bibles. The more staggering number is that of all Americans only 34% who claim to be Christian attend church. Let’s just say that we are talking about the whole of the population of America 330,000,000 people. 34% is 112,200,000. And of course, we know that all 112,200,000 believe Heaven is their home.

I know that when I have been away from home for a while, I get “homesick.” I start yearning for home—thinking about my wife, my son, my bed, my refrigerator, my garage, my yard, my television, my sofa, my messy desk. I see pictures of my home in my mind, and the more I see home, the more I long to be there. What do I do? I begin to do what is necessary for me to get home. Jesus wants us to think about home. He wants us to have Heaven on our minds.

1 If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3 For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4

We need to talk about Heaven this morning. I want to go home, how about you? But before we can talk about Home and Heaven, we need to review the rules for studying prophecy. (Deuteronomy 4:2, 2 Peter 1:19-21 & Revelation 22:18, 19)

GIVE TITLE & PRAY

John, the Revelator, is once again taken off in vision. After hours or days or weeks or months of seeing visions of devastation, turmoil, persecution, upheaval, and disappointment, Jesus shows him a picture. The Millennium has just passed before his face, and John is given insight as to who has made it and to those who did not make it. Maybe, just maybe he doesn’t see all the faces clear enough to determine who is in Heaven and to those who come up in the second resurrection and face the flames of the lake of fire. But it certainly is not a picture that Jesus would have him carry with him to his grave. The Record is,

1 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. 2 And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. 5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. 6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. (Rev. 21:1-8)

We have all heard that adage, “May it ever be so humble, there is no place like home!” Well, I would like to share three points with you this morning about Heaven. First, Heaven will be new. Second, we will answer the question of how can a place that we’ve never been, be called Home, and finally, everybody is not welcomed home.