Heaven Is Real

Heaven is real

Introduction-

Prayer-

I appreciate all the kind words for Becky and I n the loss of our sister-in-law Charlotte and my brother’s brother-in-law Ron. It has been tough. It did make me do some thinking.

Life events make you think- marriages, divorces, deaths, children born, major losses.

They redirect people to look at priorities.

Because of the death of my sister-in-law, my uncle for the first time said that he loved my brother and me. He showed it everyday, no doubt that he did, but he never said it.

He will be 80 years old in July, and I am glad I heard those words.

Her death made me think of my own priorities.

Telling people how you feel about them.

The shortness of time on this earth. I thought about heaven.

I am not going to spend time today talking on the looks of heaven or its dimensions. We will look at what happens when you die, and if you are a believer what you can expect in heaven.

Revelation 21:1-5 Read from Bible

To rightly talk about heaven, we have to back up a minute and look again at Easter Sunday.

The resurrected Jesus that redeemed us from our sins.

We have to realize and know that the invitation of salvation was for all people- Christ died for all people. It is upon the acceptance of Jesus Christ and what Christ did on the cross and His resurrection that makes heaven available for the redeemed of Christ.

God offered up His son for mankind. Those that take God up on His offer, His Son became the atoning sacrifice for their sins.

He openly offers an eternal place to dwell with our savior.

Heaven is a real place (write that down)

It is not a state of mind.

It is not a concept

It is a literal place that God has prepared for His people.

John 14:1-3

“Do not let your heart be troubled; you believed in God, believe also in me. My Father has many rooms, if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you, and if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

That is a promise of Jesus Christ.

That is a promise to believers.

Believers dwelling with their savior.

That also tells me that everyone will not be there.

Heaven was designed for the redeemed of Christ and those that want to be there. Those that are thankful for what Christ did for them.

In Luke, Jesus own words that our names are written down and recorded there.

A faulty view of heaven can cause us to miss heaven if we believe that all will be in heaven.

If we believe that people that do not care a thing about God and what Christ did would be forced to spend eternity with a God they did not acknowledge.

Saddest things I hear at funerals are he/she is in a better place. They are with so and so. If they did not know Jesus as Lord, we do not have that promise. We cannot say that.

The comfort I do get is that we do not know what happens in the last minutes of someone’s life. I believe that God in His mercy and grace can and does reach many with death bed salvation.

Unbelievers that say that they will spend eternity with their friends in hell partying. That is not biblical and separation from God also means it will not be pleasurable.

How about Christians that wonder everyday if they will make heaven and spend their lifetime thinking one day saved and one day lost. It is about a relationship with Christ and as long as things between you and God are good, you do not have to wonder everyday if you will make it or feel like you need to do or give one more thing.

Heaven is real and to the believer it will be an amazing place to spend eternity with Christ.

It will be a place of great joy and we will see our loved ones that accepted Christ.

Those that accept Christ will be in heaven, those that choose not to put their trust in Christ, there is separation, the very thing that they choose, and there will be no partying going on. It is based upon the decision that we make during this life time while we still have breath.

People are asking questions

Is heaven a real place? Yes!

What will heaven look like? Revelation gives us a glimpse of its beauty.

Who makes heaven? Those that are redeemed by Christ and have a relationship with Christ.