A New Destiny Series

INTRODUCTION

• SLIDE #1

• This is our first Sunday of 2018! WOW!

• Last week Jerry began our All Things New series. During this time of the year I think it is good for us to see the new year as an opportunity to wipe the slate clean from the previous year and start anew!

• As we begin this new year with hope and anticipation, we are going to spend the next four weeks looking at some of the new things that come into our lives as a result of being the new creation in Christ that Jerry spoke of last week.

• Have you spent much time pondering eternity? Have you thought much about where you will be when this life is over?

• Some folks think when you die, it is over, some think that you will be reincarnated, some have no clue. Those who are in Christ know there is something special awaiting them!

• Today, we will embark on a journey to look at our new destiny!

• Today we are going to talk about a subject that we probably do not talk enough about, heaven!

• Sometimes I think we do not talk a lot about heaven because it seems so far away. I think we spend so much time worrying about this life, we tend to forget the new destiny we have as a result of our relationship with Jesus.

• Today, I am not going to delve into the figurative language that we find in Revelation to make the effort to describe heaven, the streets of gold and such, because it is my conviction that John was trying to describe that which is indescribable to us.

• What we are going to do is focus on three words that are important in our understanding of heaven.

• As we examine these three words it will help us to grasp the what a wonderful blessing Heaven will be for us as well as to motivate us to be ready to go!

• We will be in Revelation 21:1-4 today, we will begin with verses 1-2.

• SLIDE #2

• Revelation 21:1–2 (CSB) — 1 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

• SLIDE #3

• The first word for today is…

SERMON

I. Heaven: Preparation.

• The Apostle John tells us he saw a NEW heaven and A NEW earth, for the first passed away and the sea was no more.

• Throughout Revelation, John uses the word SEA as a symbol for evil and chaos.

• So, what we can surmise from verse one is simply that in the new heaven and earth, EVIL is DEFEATED forever!

• The forces of evil are defeated by the cross of Christ!

• In Revelation 4:6 and 15:2 we see the phrase SEA of GLASS.

• The sea is calm like glass because the decisive battle over evil has been won by Jesus at the cross!

• In this world, we still deal with evil, but in the new heaven and earth, evil is defeated!

• John further tells us that he saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven.

• The new age does not mark the end of God’s creation, but rather, it is a a transformation of creation so that it conforms to His will.

• God is redeeming creation, He is rescuing it from the curse of sin.

• Now here is what I want us to latch on from verse 2

• 2 I also saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared like a bride adorned for her husband.

• God PREPARED the new heaven new earth!

• So that means right now things are in a state of preparation.

• Jesus told us as such in John 14.

• SLIDE #4

• John 14:1–3 (CSB) — 1 “Don’t let your heart be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if not, I would have told you. I am going away to prepare a place for you. 3 If I go away and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am you may be also.

• So, what we learn from the word PREPARATION is that while we are still here, as we await the second coming of Jesus, we have a job to do, to be preparing for our new destiny.

• Why are we here? What is the purpose of this life? It is a time of preparation for the next.