Homesick - For Heaven!

Scripture Reading: John 14:1-12

Introduction:

Every once in a while I get homesick. Does anyone here know anything about being homesick? The past few weeks I’ve got to admit I have been just a little homesick for Momma. This doesn’t happen very often – not that I don’t love my Momma, but I am just not that kind of guy who is a Momma’s boy. However, the last few weeks I’ve missed my Mother.

I remember a time when I was at Penn View (college), that I got depressed because I missed my mother waking me up every morning I telling me that “I was ugly and my Momma dressed me funny.” This was just something that my mother and I often joked around about. No one else really understands this when I tell them, but I got to missing my mother when I thought about this.

Well, this morning I want to tell you about a place that I am far more homesick for than I am for Ohio. Every once in a while, I get homesick for heaven! Yesterday as I was out visiting with some different people I just got to thinking about how homesick I was to meet Jesus face to face. I am looking forward to that day! I am looking forward to the time when I can bow before Him and praise His name forever! I am homesick for heaven this morning!

D.L. Moody said, “The thought of Heaven has cheered the soul of many believers. Some say that we are fools to believe in Heaven. But, to deny Heaven is to deny Jesus, for He came from Heaven, it is to place our departed loved ones in the cold dark grave, it is to deprive millions of Christians of the greatest hope they have. To deny Heaven is equal to murder for it kills hope, to thievery for it robs joy, to slander because it calls God a liar.” Today, I would like to state for the record that I believe in heaven!

We live in a world that does not offer the child of God much hope or encouragement. With sin, crime and ungodliness abounding everywhere, it is easy to become discouraged, disillusioned and disappointed. That is why it is important for us to remember where we are going!

Allow me to remind you that this world is not our home and that we are just passing through. Philippians 3:20-21 says, “For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to His glorious body, according to the working by which He is able even to subdue all things to Himself.”

Homecoming day is coming! This morning I want to talk to you about heaven for just a little while from this passage of Scripture in John 14.

I. The Promise of Heaven (v. 1-2)

Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told I go to prepare a place for you.” Jesus has promised heaven to those who follow Him! Heaven is a reality this morning! Jesus said so, and that is good enough for me! According to one poll I read recently, 78% of Americans believe in heaven. Well, I am glad to tell you, whether you believe it or not there is a place called heaven for those who are Christians!

Heaven is promised. Here in these verses of Scripture Jesus promises to give peace. He said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” What a powerful promise! Jesus has promised that He can give us peace in life. It is a peace that never falters or fails. It is a peace that we can count on when hard times come. It is a peace that only Christ can provide.

Jesus gives us security in insecure times. The peace of Christ is firm when everything else falls short. It is a peace that penetrates our deepest pain. It is a peace that supports us in our greatest grief. It is a peace that comforts when nothing else can. It is a peace that brings us back to the state of living.

This is a peace beyond comprehension. Human understanding fails us, but Jesus never fails! There are times in life when things happen that we just do not understand. There are times when our human understanding fails us completely. There are times when we have questions that seemingly have no answers. But Jesus offers us peace. There is a greater peace that Christ has promised. It is a perfect peace and one that gives us strength when our strength is completely gone. This peace is gained by our trust in Christ. You can have this peace by placing your faith in Christ. Because I have placed my faith in Jesus Christ, He is able to give me peace in the midst of a world of trouble. We have the promise of heaven, and nothing does my heart better than to remember that this world will not last. I may have heart aches, and I may have troubles. This world can depress one very quickly when we get thinking about all of the evil and wickedness of our day, but we need to remember that heaven has been promised to those who trust in Jesus! When I read yesterday of how a lesbian pastor in the United Methodist church was acquitted and allowed to continue in the ministry even after getting “married” to her lesbian lover, my heart was troubled and rightfully so. When I see the moral corruption of our day, my heart is troubled. But, I am glad that there is a day that is coming when we shall see Jesus, and no longer will there be the evil and the corruption of this world – we will be in heaven.