Did you ever feel as if somehow you just didn’t fit-in? A church member was having surgery. I went into the recovery room while he was still a bit groggy. His eyes didn’t focus at first, but he could hear the soft music playing somewhere in the background. He muttered, I must be in heaven. Then he opened his eyes and saw me standing over him, he said, I can’t be in heaven; Pastor Russell’s here!
There are people who don’t fit anywhere; today in all the cities and suburbs there are homeless people walking the streets. They have no set place to be, nothing to do – just survive until tomorrow; it will start all over again then. By contrast, most of the people you know have a home and family. The chief difference between the two types of people is that one has a sense of belonging – the other aimless, without purpose.
There is a parallel between homelessness in this life, and the homelessness of a life without God. People who have lost hope simply exist. Living on the street is terrible -- living an eternity without God is a tragedy.
Look at the differences Christians will enjoy throughout eternity:
A Christian is Saved
SAVED FROM SIN’S PRESENCE
3And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “See, the home of God is among mortals. He will dwell with them; they will be his peoples, and God himself will be with them; 4he will wipe every tear from their eyes. Death will be no more; mourning and crying and pain will be no more, for the first things have passed away.” 5And the one who was seated on the throne said, “See, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:3-5
A Christian, a follower of Jesus Christ, is released from the penalty of sin even in this life (Ro 3.23). Believers struggle with the power of sin in our lives, but in the New Jerusalem, even the presence of sin will be removed. Life in its perfection will be restored, even better than it was in Eden. Adam and Eve didn’t know just how good they had it. They did not know the destructiveness sin would have in their lives. Today, as a believing part of the body of Christ, I know I don’t belong in a sin-sick world. This isn’t my home. I’m looking for a new city where the former things will all be gone.
SAVED TO BE THE SAVIOR’S BRIDE
9Then one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, “Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” Revelation 21:9 (NRSV)
A bride represents the closest kind of human relationship. There is nothing more attentive than a new husband. Jesus’ bride is the church. He is now busy preparing for the marriage supper. This chapter of The Revelation describes the elaborate decor of the New Jerusalem, the home Jesus said he’s going to prepare for all who love Him. We are going to the wedding!
HIS NAME IS IN A SELECT BOOK
27But nothing unclean will enter it, nor anyone who practices abomination or falsehood, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s book of life. Revelation 21:27 (NRSV)
The first time we bought a house, Elizabeth and I showed up at the closing looking like two wide-eyed does, caught in the headlights. We didn’t have a clue what was going to happen. When it was over we had a few thousand pounds of paper and a set of keys (and no money)!
Later in the month I was in the courthouse and decided to look up our transaction in the property appraiser’s office. Our name was there! I knew we’d signed papers; I knew we’d paid the money; I knew they said it would be there -- but somehow it was comforting to see it in black and white. We had a trusted attorney. He saw to it that the deed was recorded.
The Bible says we have a trusted advocate in Jesus. Beloved, when you are talking about your eternal soul, there is no one else more faithful than Jesus. Trust Him to write your name in His book.
A Christian is saved, and…
A Christian is Satisfied
NO THIRST UNSATISFIED
6Then he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water as a gift from the spring of the water of life. 7Those who conquer will inherit these things, and I will be their God and they will be my children. Revelation 21:6-7 (NRSV)
1Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb Revelation 22:1
Someone has observed that thirst is not a bad thing when it can be quenched on demand. There is something quite wonderful about satisfying a great thirst. Jesus told us that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness will be filled; He is going to give it freely. We will be close to the throne, and the water of life is all clear and pure; it’s the Father’s best! What good news is this!
NO HUNGER UNFILLED
….On either side of the river is the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, producing its fruit each month; and the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations. Revelation 22:2
Healing is a word better translated as healthing. The Tree of Life will act like a preemptory strike against disease; the leaves keep us healthy. Just as photosynthesis keeps oxygen in the air, the process God has ordained of the tree of life is to provide eternal wholeness to all who partake of the fruit.
Sojourner Truth was a remarkable black woman, born in slavery, who devoted the last 20 years of her life to traveling the roads of America, preaching God’s truth. Because she could neither read nor write, she memorized the Bible. Despite cruel treatment, poverty, great sorrow, and serious illness, her faith never wavered.
Before she died in 1883, in Battle Creek, Michigan, a friend asked, Sojourner, how can you be so sure there’s a Heaven? And Sojourner looked up, her dark eyes shining, and whispered joyously, Because I’ve got such a hankering for it here, as she placed her hand over her heart. [1]
The firmest assurance that there is heaven, a place where hunger is fulfilled, is the God-shaped hole that creates the hunger in my heart. Where there is thirst, there is water. Where there is hunger, there is food. Where there is loneliness, there is fellowship. Where there is a broken heart, there is a heart mender. And where there is a world passing away, there is a heaven where every hunger will be satisfied. And the way it will be satisfied...oh….THAT’S the best:
THERE WILL BE NO LIMITS
3Nothing accursed will be found there any more. But the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him; 4they will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. 5And there will be no more night; they need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever. Revelation 22:3-5
For the people of God, now we see through a glass darkly. We don’t really understand all we will have in glory. We do not understand what living without sin will be like. We don’t know what unbroken fellowship with Christ will be like. But this we do know...in glory the lid is off! The struggle for purity, grace, friendship, and ministry will be ended. Then – we shall be like Him.
Serving won’t be toil, but joy. Satan the accuser will be in the lake of fire, and so, there will be no doubts – ever again! Truth will reign; our identity securely etched in our own foreheads. Those who refuse the mark of the beast will receive the Jesus mark. The curse will be over – the crown in sight. What a glorious thought!
And what a glorious reunion. I often fantasize about how attractive Heaven is – and how it is getting more so for me every year.
• Grandma Carrie is over there. I’m going to spend at least the first hundred years or so rubbing my face in her starched apron. I’m going to put my hands on that bun of gray hair and hold her tight.
• My dear friend and mentor, Pat Giffin is there -- probably playing practical jokes on the angels. I know he has his smile back. You see, during his last few years the strokes had stolen that smile. But I’m certain the moment he saw Jesus, that smile came back!
• Jim Livengood’s heart isn’t weak any more. He is strong again, heart pumping like a 20 year-old. He’s more than likely breaking everyone’s ribs in heaven with that bear hug.
• And dear old Deacon, Leroy Brown has finally found a decent carpenter to hang-out with. Leroy was a master carpenter. He willed me his staple gun – it was older than he. New fangled ones don’t work good, he’d say. No one could satisfy Leroy’s eye. But his new carpenter pal can.
When I think of the New Jerusalem, and the ones that are waiting, I can’t help thinking about the pan of lasagna Elizabeth’s mom, Sofie has waiting for me. She enjoyed seeing me eat. I enjoyed having her watch!
My mechanically-minded father-in-law, Tony may be having the toughest time adjusting to heaven; no cars breaking down for him to fix. But just the same, he’s probably adjusting the carburetor on Peter’s chariot. I know Tony – He’s got to be hanging around with that big fisherman. They were both hard headed.
And, just this past fall, my own dear mother joined the lot; heaven is a lot more attractive now. It won’t be the twinkling of an eye and we’ll all be together. And there won’t be a single pain or missed memory!
What a crew is waiting over there! But, best of all, my big brother is going to be there; my Elder brother. I have one older brother here, and one there. The one there is named Jesus. I have never seen His face. But I’ve seen Him in your life. I’ve seen Him in the faces of people who have had their lives transformed in a moment; some in a worship service just like this. I’ve seen Him change a corpse into a life worth living. I’ve seen Him transform homes and lives. I can’t wait to see Him face to face.
My friend, I want to see you over there with Tony and Sofie, Pat and Jim, Leroy, my mom and Grandma Carrie. I want to greet you and walk with you and Jesus beside the waters of the river of life. I want to spend unhurried and unworried time together as we know each other deeper, and love each other with the love of Jesus Christ. I want to spend time with you and Jesus, Moses, Peter and John.
And I want to sit at the foot of God’s throne with you and bask in the light of the Shekinah glory that flows from God’s presence. I want to sit at the table with you when Jesus calls us to the marriage supper. And I want to feel the brush of Jesus’ finger as he wipes away every tear, and his embrace changes every sadness we’ve ever known into joy unspeakable and full of glory!
Are you prepared? Have you given your name to Jesus so He can write it in His book of life?
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ENDNOTES
1] In Other Words
