"One Way To Paradise"

“One Way to Paradise!”

March 27, 2011

There is a place called Paradise. I not talking about that town about 8 miles from Chico, California, where my friend Lloyd Tremain pastors the Church of the Nazarene. I have never been there, but a lot of people I trust have – so I have no doubt there really is a town called Paradise.

I haven’t been to heaven; have never seen it; but I believe there is such a place. Other than believing the Word of God when it says there is such a place, I can sense it. I can feel it in my bones. We all know by instinct that we are eternal and there is a wonderful eternal place waiting for us. Nearly every religion in the world talks of such a place. Nearly every people on the face of earth records their idea of such a place. Some call it Utopia, Zion, Nirvana, Happy Hunting Grounds, Paradise or Heaven. But we know there is such a place. Our bible talks of it.

Micaiah says, “I saw the LORD sitting on his throne with all the multitudes of heaven standing on his right and on his left.”

2 Chronicles 18:18

“Our help is in the name of the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 124:8

Jesus spoke of Heaven as fact. He said, “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” Mathew 5:12

"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 you. I go to prepare a place for you.” John 14:1-2

“But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

Acts 7:55-56

“After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” At once I was in the Spirit, and there before me was a throne in heaven with someone sitting on it.” Revelation 4:1-2

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Rev 21:3-4

There are thousands of reverences to heaven in the Bible – these are just a few. Many great men of God have testified that they have seen that holy place. There are believable men. They were honorable and trustworthy and lived holy and sacrificial lives. By faith, I believe them. I especially believe Jesus. If it were not true – He would have told us. He didn’t refute what was said about heaven. On the contrary, He died to provide a way in which we may have access to that place. There is an eternal home waiting for us that we call heaven.

But how do we get there? That is the big question. If there is a place called Utopia, Zion, Nirvana, Happy Hunting Grounds, Paradise and Heaven – how do we get there. Some say it is through meditation. Some say it is by separating ourselves from what we call reality. Some say it is by being good. Do more good than bad – they say. Some say it is by believing in Allah or some god. If there is a place called heaven – how do we get there?

Jesus made it pretty clear. He said,

“I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.” John 10:9

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6

WOW! That is pretty hard to believe! Jesus is the only way to heaven? You can’t come to the Father in heaven except by going through Christ? That is pretty hard to believe. But Jesus said,

“I have spoken to you of earthly things and you do not believe; how then will you believe if I speak of heavenly things? No one has ever gone into heaven except the one who came from heaven—the Son of Man. Just as Moses lifted up the snake in the desert, so the Son of Man must be lifted up, that everyone who believes in him may have eternal life.