Heaven: The Place You Can Call Home Series

Cell #15--

In a very real way, the homes we live in now are not our real homes, heaven is. The average person in America lives in a home for seven years. Our homes here are temporary, but heaven is eternal.

3. Living in light of heaven helps us realize that this life is just the warm up for the next. In fact, it’s only when we live with the realization that this life is short and eternity is forever that we can begin to understand what’s really important in this life. It’s not wrong that we enjoy our homes and fix them up. However, it is wrong when we become so focused on this temporary life that we ignore the eternal life that is to come.

4. Many of you know that I like C S Lewis. He spoke of this very issue when he wrote these words, "It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this one." Here is what it comes down to.

Cell #16--

For the Christian, this present life is the closest we will come to Hell. For the non-Christian, this is the closest they will come to Heaven.

5. I hope that reality makes you do some very serious thinking. While heaven will be our eternal home, it will not be the home of everyone. I’ll share with you about that next week. But let me get back to how wonderful heaven is going to be. The choir I was in during college sang a song that really liked. It went like this...

Cell #17--

"Finally Home."

"But just think of stepping on shore & finding it heaven. Of touching a hand, & finding it’s Gods. Of breathing new air & find it’s celestial, Of Waking up in heaven, & finding it’s home."

6. That’s what makes heaven so truly special. It will be home.

Conclusion:

1. I want to conclude with a story that is about the well known preacher, George W. Truett. One day the preacher was invited to dinner at the home of a very wealthy man in Texas. After their meal, his host led him to a hil where they had a good view of the surrounding area. Pointing to the oil wells, punctuating the landscape, the tycoon boasted, "Twenty five years ago, I had nothing. Now as far as you can see, in every direction is all mine." He paused expecting Dr. Truett’s compliment on his great success. Truett, however, placed one hand on the man’s shoulder, pointed to heaven with the other and asked, "How much do you have in that direction?" The man admitted he had never thought of that..

2. I want to contrast that with an experience I had Friday with James Baskin. His condition is quickly deteriorating. I read verses to him about heaven. I could see him visibly relax and in spite of the pain he smiled. You see, he understood in a very practical way, what the rest of us look forward to on some distant day, he anticipates in the very near future.

3. (Hand out the Green Cards) I want to thank David Lotz for this idea and for making the cards we are handing out to you right now. Our country gives out Green Cards to people who are from another country, but who are temporarily living in the US. In a similar way, each person who has accepted Christ as their Savior is living here only temporarily. (Read the card) Write your name on the card... Here is what it says, "Is a temporary resident of the planet earth and is authorized to further the work of Christ while living here. This authorization expires when all of God’s tasts for this person are completed. Departure to heaven will be made immediately upon experiation." We are only visitors on this earth, but we will spend an eternity getting to know God in heaven.