NAS John 14:1 "Let not your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. 4 "And you know the way where I am going." 5 Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?" 6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father, but through Me.
THE PLACE: PREPARRED
THE DIMENSIONS: VAST (Rev. 21:16)
TALK ABOUT SQUARE FOOTAGE:
If you take the dimensions of 1500 miles cubed and project 100 Billion people in Heaven which is more people than have ever lived or died on the earth, you will find incredible dimensions. If you figured 15 height between floors in heaven and took only one floor out of the 530, 000 floors you could have. Each of the 100 Billion people could have 630 square feet or a 20 by 30 room. But then there are still a half a million more floors! Let Ty Pennington dry to get that place ready in a week!
THE DETAIL: INTRICATE (Rev. 21:18-21)
This This is not the Wal*Mart pressed board furniture. It is not even Furniture Store things. It is hand made! This is not HGTV remodels. This is from start to finish a work of art, not a repair. This is like going to shipshawana where you have everything custom made to order. But it is even better.
How do you carve a pearl into a gate?
In ancient days, the pearl was considered the most precious of all gems!
How did Michelangelo carve David? Very carefully!
Have you ever looked at Mt. Rushmore and said, wow! Compared to what Jesus is doing in heaven, that is a Kindergarten project!
THE DWELLING: PERSONAL (Rev. 21:22)
It is not an unoccupied throne. It is not politicians stump point when running for president. It is His Home. And He will be there! Because a poorly translated word, we can get some unbiblical views of heaven!
Mansions comes from the vulgate (Latin translation of the Bible). The Greek says, dwelling places on His estate. While you will have a personal space, you will not be separated from God or others. You will have privacy at times, but you will never have a life of seclusion. Some people say they worship God on their own. They watch their TV preacher, read religious magazines, but they never connect with anyone. What a strange type of faith. How could you really understand the God you claim to worship in private whose heaven is jostling full of people and public praise? You need to worship God in the truth of His revealed Word.
The idea Christ seeks to get across to the apostles and us here is not that we will live SECLUDED lives off on some plantation in the middle of nowhere, but rather that we will BE INCLUDED in God’s daily life and the lives of His people! That means beginning to enjoy others now.
9 out of 10 people claim to believe in Jesus but 4 out of 5 have no church affiliation in Indiana. 80% of the people you come across on any given day do not worship Jesus corporately.
Oh to sing with saints above in heavenly love,
What joy I’ll have in glory
But sing here below with the ones I know,
now that’s a different story!
I hope you are not a finger pointer or a complainer, especially at Church! Whenever you come across someone who points their finger or complains about church, you know you’ve met someone that doesn’t understand that the only One with a right to point fingers and complain is
THE PROMISE:
HE’S COMING BACK FOR YOU
Boone, I knew you’d come back.
God tests us with trials and tribulations
The world takes its toll on us.
HE HAS A PLACE FOR YOU
YOU WILL BE WELCOME
YOU WILL BE WANTED
THE PATH:
A PERSON! (John 14:6)
When I shepherded in Kentucky, I wanted to visit a particular family. We were out in the country and it was all unfamiliar to me. So, I stopped and asked directions to the home. A lady told me how to get there by way of turns and landmarks; street names had little meaning to them. One of the landmarks and I quote, “Go past where the McConner’s barn burned down and make a left.” The barn burned down 25 years ago. That did not help me. She smiled. I of course was ready to test my memory and navigation skill. “Good luck.” I got lost. She pointed me in the right direction. She gave clear instructions. But, the area was unfamiliar to me. I had never been there before. So for all her good intentions, I got lost.
Now imagine if she had sad, “Hey, I know exactly where you want to go. I’ve been there before. Just follow me.” She now becomes the way. I do not wander aimlessly around after talking to her. I get to where I needed to be. Jesus is not a way, He is the Way to heaven.
HOW MANY DO YOU PLAN TO TAKE WITH YOU?
DON’T JUST POINT THE WAY.
Budha was still looking for the Way when he died.
Mohammed said he pointed towards God.
But, Jesus said, “I am God. I am the Way, I am the Truth. You will not get to heaven with some hazy hopeful theology or idea about God. You either know me or you don’t.
Don’t just HOPE your friend got the message.
Don’t wonder if they made it.
BE PREPARRED.
To share with them:
The plan of Salvation.
Your testimony of how you came to Christ.
Invite them
to church.
to Sunday school
Pray for them.
This Tuesday. At my house praying and training to pray.
