Sermons

Summary: 20th in a series of messages exploring the wonder of God as our loving Father. This message continues (Pt 6) the discussion of heaven as our future inheritance.

“The Reward & Inheritance Factor” Pt 6

(The Fatherhood of God Message 20)

X. The Reward and Inheritance Factor

A. PRESENT AND FUTURE REWARD

Remember – you’re not home yet.

B. FUTURE INHERITANCE

Remember – He who has the Son gets it all.

C. INTERMEDIATE HOME

Remember – Absent from the body at home with the Lord.

D. RENEWED HEAVEN AND EARTH

1. The physical aspects of life on the new earth

a) General Observations

b) THE CAPITAL CITY – THE NEW JERUSALEM

c) THE RENEWED EARTH

d) THE RENEWED UNIVERSE

e) OUR RENEWED PHYSICAL BODIES

It is clear that all mankind will be resurrected. Not just believers but unbelievers will experience a resurrection. One, a resurrection to eternal existence with God on the renewed earth.

The other a resurrection to eternal judgment apart from God in the lake of fire. Rev 20:11-15

All mankind will be assigned some sort of physical body. Believers will live eternal in resurrected bodies like that of our savior. After the resurrection Jesus urged the disciples to touch His body. He was not a ghost. He said he had a body of flesh and bones. (Luke 24:39)

Similar yet different. Physical bodies reset to their function at optimum capacity; perfectly balanced and integrated body, soul, and spirit.

2. The social and personal aspects of life on the new earth

We will live in a most glorious environment. Familiar yet fresh and new. Imaginable yet unimaginable. We get brief glimpses of eternity during this age, but then we will experience the ultimate. What will we do? Where will we live? Who will we see? Where will we go? What will we be like? What will life be like? The Bible does not provide a great deal of detail but enough to keep our hope alive and active; enough to stimulate our God directed imagination; enough to stir deep longings to be home.

a) Christlike Character

God’s laws will be written on our heart and worked out in our life. We will both will and do His good pleasure. We will desire and actually do the things that please God. We will have a heart like His. We will be like Him. We will think like Him, love like Him, choose like Him. We will not longer make wrong choices or take those devastating detours. We will never live contrary to God’s will again. We will by nature please and glorify God in everything we think, say and do.

We will serve God with the full capacity of our being with our unique gifting.

b) Responsibility & Rule

There will be cities, nations, kings, nationalities, governments, towns. All believers will rule and reign with Christ. (2 Tim 2:12; Rev 20:6)

Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more matters of this life? 1 Corinthians 6:2-3

Yet some will have more responsibility than others based on their faithful service here.

"You are those who have stood by Me in My trials; and just as My Father has granted Me a kingdom, I grant you that you may eat and drink at My table in My kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel. Luke 22:28-30

"And he said to him, 'Well done, good slave, because you have been faithful in a very little thing, you are to be in authority over ten cities.' Luke 19:17

c) Activities

Eating in Heaven

At the Last Supper Jesus told the disciples He would not drink the fruit of the vine again until the establishment of His kingdom. (Luke 22:18)

Matthew 8:11 Luke 24:36-43 Acts 10:40-41 Rev 19:9 Luke 14:15

Games, sports, running, jumping, hiking.

Mal 4:2-3

Eric Liddell (Chariots of Fire) was convinced that his running brought God pleasure. How much more on the New Earth? Dive of a 300 foot cliff into clear blue lake? Sky dive? Fly? Rock climb? Jeremiah talks about dancing on the New Earth. Jeremiah 31:4

Laughter Luke 6:21

Entertainment

Stories, painting, poetry, sculpture, arts, crafts, music, laughter and drama all express something about God and ourselves. Why wouldn’t such expression continue on the New Earth only completely pure and honoring to the God who made us. Stories of salvation, documentaries on God’s creation, laugh at life on earth, rejoice at new discoveries, marvel at new musical creations, be drawn to worship by a piece of art or poem or song. Why not?

d) Growth

There is much we will know but we will continue to grow and develop. God alone knows everything. 1 Cor 13 talks about seeing in a distorted mirror. They were used to looking in a polished bronze mirror which caused distortion and discoloration. Paul talked about the day when we would know more full. He didn’t say we would know everything. We would know more fully; no error, not misconceptions. We will bring memories, gain new knowledge, discover new things, explore new places, and understand new realities. Part of the enjoyment in life is to hear new stories. How boring it would be to know everything. Part of life is discovery.

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