Ready For Heaven In 2007
In Valladolid, Spain, where Christopher Columbus died in 1506, stands a monument commemorating the great discoverer. Perhaps the most interesting feature of the memorial is a statue of a lion destroying one of the Latin words that had been part of Spain’s motto for centuries. Before Columbus made his voyages, the Spaniards thought they had reached the outer limits of earth. Thus their motto was "Ne Plus Ultra," which means "No More Beyond." The word being torn away by the lion is "ne" or "no," making it read “Plus Ultra”. Columbus had proven that there was indeed “more beyond”.
It has been called Glory Land, That Holy White City, Beulah Land, Paradise, The Promise Land and Heaven…The Celestial shores beckon us each and every day. We can only imagine its beauty and its splendor. Paul wrote to the church in Corinth in 1 Cor 2:9 “But as it is written, Eye hath not seen , nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.”
It has been described as a country a place. Never has there ever been a place that has captivated the minds of people for generations. Once can not compare the earthly splendor of some of our great cities like New York which bustles with the sounds of traffic, cultural diversity, and the most fashion driven people in the world with their designer handbags and lattes in hand. You can not compare the earthly splendor of Paris, France the enchanting city that entices all of its visitors with its famed romance and renowned architecture and historical landmarks to the celestial city that’s called Heaven.
The apostles ministered under the urgency and the mentality that Jesus return would be soon. There evangelism was relentless, their consecration was laced with Godly fear, and their commitment was unwavering! Their voices echo tonight from the Holy Word of God verbally to us as we read of their triumphs, their insecurities, their faliars and ambitions which were all held together by the desire to be translated from this foreign land to their eternal Home.
As each day expires sin is getting worse as sin is destroying the lives of people. There has been an attempt of the enemy to strip the reality of heaven from the minds of the world and the church of the living God.
Instead of being a people uncomfortable in a foreign land often times it seems that we have driven our stakes into the temporal soil of this world. It would seem to me tonight that we do not hold the same urgency that our fore fathers held as they walked on this earth and anticipated His coming at any moment
I come tonight to heighten our awareness to a church who is allowing our minds to be shifted off the reality of Heaven by a culture who wants nothing to do with the goodness of the gospel.
Our culture would like to shadow our passion with mediocrity, it would like to color our mood with depression, it would like to exchange our evangelism with inactivity, but I rise with the spirit of the fore fathers to preach to this church that the Kingdom of God is at Hand…
Ladies and Gentlemen the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ is not a myth. It’s not a fable, it’s not a storybook concept, but the coming of the Lord is real and we must be ready.
Heaven is a city for the servants of the Lord. When Jesus spoke of Heaven he usually did it through parables or stories, and many times he was speaking to his servants or making reference to servants.
Many of us are multitaskers. We can do many things at one time. We go from church to work…We have more meetings than any other generation. We have a larger work load than any other generation. We are a busy generation.
I am afraid that the many things that multitask are making us num to the reality. If we are not careful we can equate all the things we do – EVEN IN CHURCH – as service to God.
I have personally felt the mild rebuke as the one Jesus gave Martha as she became entangled in the details of serving Jesus, while Mary was captivated by sitting at His feet. The Savior said, “Martha, you are troubled about many things, but one thing is needful and Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her…
I have to tell you that in 2007 it’s more important to be occupied with Jesus, than being occupied for Jesus.
Tonight I am preaching about a day by day realization, because the enemy is working to shift our minds off of the Hope of Heaven.
In this generation we are beginning to forget about Heaven. In this face paced world with all the things we can be doing, we have placed heaven on the shelf as though it’s just a vacation spot, but I have come to remind you that we need get back to believing in the reality of Heaven…
Anonymous writer, about an American tourist’s visit to the 19th century Polish rabbi, Hofetz Chaim:
Astonished to see that the rabbi’s home was only a simple room filled with books, plus a table and a bench, the tourist asked,
"Rabbi, where is your furniture?"
"Where is yours?" replied the rabbi.
"Mine?" asked the puzzled American. "But I’m a visitor here. I’m only passing through."
"So am I," said Hofetz Chaim.
This world is not our home…We are just passing through… Our treasures are laid up somewhere beyond the blue… I can’t feel at home in this world anymore…
What I am trying to tell you tonight is that Heaven is the MARK…2007 is a time that we prepare to go Home! 2007 is a time that we prepare others to go Home! 2007 is a time that we get ready to meet our loved ones! 2007 marks the year that we talk about Heaven’s Gates and how we are all going to get there.
The reason we don’t reach like we use to is because we don’t talk about heaven like we use to. The anticipation that we once had is no longer there. All we can think of is how are we going to keep the church open. How can I keep my position? How can I woo the pastor…It’s time that we turn our hearts toward Heaven and take the responsibility of getting souls to heaven.
Board members stand…If you aren’t trying to get someone to heaven, we don’t need you on our board.
Sunday School Teachers Stand…If you aren’t trying to get someone to heaven, we don’t need you to teach Sunday school.
Family Connect Group Leaders Stand…If you aren’t trying to get your group to heaven then we don need you as a Family Connect Group Leader.
The job of the church is to get everyone ready for Heaven in 2007.
We need a renewed desire to go there. My desire became even stronger 1 year ago when my beautiful wife went to take her claim in Heaven. This has been burning in my soul for one year and I believe that God has given me a revelation that this church needs to hear.
If you read history you will find that the Christians who did the most for the present world were just those who thought most of the next. We have become ineffective because we have ceased to think of Heaven.
I remember sitting in my living room with Ramonda talking about heaven. She asked me this question. “James do you ever get tired and just want to go to heaven?” She followed it up with a phrase that I will remember for the rest of my life. “I am ready to go to heaven and if God would take me now I am ready, but the only thing that I would be sad t is leaving you and Hope, so I want ya’ll to come with me.” For one year she became consumed by reaching people who were lost. She wanted to reach somebody from the pits of hell and show them the way to heaven. For one year she was consumed by Heaven and trying to get someone else there with her. We had a baby, but she reached. We had full time jobs but we found time to get at the feet of Jesus. We both lost our jobs, but we still knocked doors because Ramonda was consumed with getting someone to Heaven with her.
As God began to deal with me about this message, the words of my wife burned in my heart, I am ready to go to heaven, but I want ya’ll to come with me.
Church…I am ready to go to heaven, but I want to bring somebody with me.
I can only imagine what it will be like…I can only imagine the joy felt when he says, “Enter in.” I can only imagine when I see all those who have gone on before me…I can’t wait to see them, but I want ya’ll to come with me.
I want Hope to come with me. I want my church to come with me. I want my brothers to come with me. I want my community to come with me…
Closing…
How about it. Is your name there? Are you ready to go to Heaven? Are you willing to say, I will do my best for 2007 to bring someone with me? How about it church can we commit tonight for 2007.
Real commitment for a great year.
