Heavenly Thoughts
Hebrews 11:8-16
“By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore.
All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
Spring is coming! About this time of year, I begin to long for spring. I want to see the flowers popping up, the trees leafing out, and feel the warm wind on my face. Growing up in Northern Minnesota, January and February were the coldest months of the year – they seemed the longest, too. My theory is that’s why February only has 28 days. 30 or 31 days is just too much. We would get too sick and tired of winter with those extra days. More people pass away during these months than any other, I’ve heard. It’s easy to lose hope during the long dark nights of winter. But I’m longing for better days ahead.
And they are coming. We’ve been through a lot of winters together. Julie and I have seen almost 4 decades of winter turning into spring. We know the flowers, bushes and the fruit trees will burst into color pretty soon. Calves and colts will be leaping in joy. The snow will melt and the lakes will warm up. We look at the dead appearing trees and the lifeless looking grasslands and know it is all an illusion. I’m looking forward to camping and backpacking and picnicking and swimming in the lake once again. Spring is coming.
Sometimes, in the middle of another storm, it seems so far away. But the days are clicking down, and the weeks are slowing passing. Don’t get discouraged.
Have you heard the story about the old, faithful missionary returning to the United States to retire? He and his wife had spent over 40 years serving in Africa. But now he was alone. His wife and two children had long since found their final resting place in the dirt of Africa. As he got off the plane he saw a great crowd of people waiting at the gate. Some were holding signs, others were waving banners. He could even hear sounds of music above the shouting voices. For a few seconds he thought, "Can it be? After more than 40 years of service, all of these people have actually come out to welcome me home?"
But no, that was not the case. On his plane was a politician returning from a visit to Africa. During his visit he had been catered to and waited on and all his needs had been met in first class. And now he was being welcomed back with all the ceremony his admirers could provide.
As the old servant of God waited and waited at the airport, the contrast was almost more than the old missionary could bear. For a moment he began feeling sorry for himself. He started to pray. "Father in Heaven, why? I’ve served You faithfully for so long, and yet, look. I don’t expect much. But is it wrong to desire that there be some kind of a welcome home?" Then, almost as if God had spoken out loud, the old missionary said he heard Him say, "But my son, you’re not home yet."
The first thing I want you to understand this morning is: 1. “You are not home yet”. We are just passing through. Life is going to be full of challenges and problems. I was thinking this week of those words of commitment I spoke before God concerning my life with Julie: “In sickness and in health, for richer for poorer; for better for worse.” We have experienced some of the ‘worst’ times – and some of the better times. We have experienced sickness and health together. We have experienced poverty and what we consider rich together. Julie’s definition of rich is to have a pack of gum in your purse. Guess we have been more rich than poor, according to that definition. But through it all – we are passing through. See, home is safe, and warm and full of love. When you are passing through you may not experience any of that.
I remember as a young man being sent to a foreign country with the U.S. Army. It was so strange. The people talked funny and smelled funny and acted a lot different than I was use to. I didn’t feel safe, warm or any love at all. I felt so alone in that strange place. Time dragged by and I thought I would never see my home again. It was almost unbelievable when I got on that plane headed for home. I was sure it was going to crash.
I want you to know, if you are a Christian, you may be passing through, but you are never alone. Jesus said,
“…surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20
“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5
Sometimes it seems like we live in a very crazy world, with all the stuff that comes our way – but God can use this for our good, too. We are getting stronger, smarter and more experienced. Hopefully, we are learning.
I was reading about how Doctors of old times tested the sanity of mental patients with a strange test. The patient was placed in a room with a sink. The faucet was turned on and a stopper was put in the drain until the sink overflowed. The patient was then handed a mop and the door was closed.
If the patient had enough sense to shut off the water, pull the plug, and then mop up the water, he was considered capable of going home. But on the other hand, if the patient mopped like crazy and never bothered to shut off the water and/or pull the plug, he was considered still insane and needed to be detained a little longer in the mental institution.
There are a lot of people in this world that are mopping like crazy. They are plagued by their own personal demons, and they haven’t figured out how to stop the flooding in their lives. It’s crazy not to come to Jesus. It’s crazy to do the same old things over and over and expect different results. It’s crazy to go on living the same old way. Understand that you are just passing through and that God allows challenges in our lives to prepare us for our homecoming. Celebrate Recovery says, “God never wastes a pain.” God uses the bumps in the road of life. But remember - you are never alone on the journey – take comfort from that.
Also understand and take comfort from the fact that 2. the home we are going to is built by God. The Scriptures says,
“… he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Hebrews 11:10
Jesus said, “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 14:2
The God whom we worship created at least 100 billion galaxies—some astronomers would say 200 billion. The great Creator God is who made all this majesty and glory. Can you imagine, then, what he’s done to create a heaven? One of my favorite Scriptures is 1 Corinthians 2:9,
"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."
What the artist is will always be expressed in their creation. Van Gogh paintings are beautiful, but a little strange. Goth paintings are down right dark and dreary and weird! Julie’s art is soft and gentle. Sandy’s has a sense of humor in it. What is in the heart of the creator finds its way into the creation.
I used to tell the kids in our Christian School to imagine the best day of your life, Christmas, birthday, summer vacation, awards banquet, whatever – and try to remember how you felt on that best moment of your life – then stretch that moment into infinity. That’s a little bit what heaven would be like. We are going to feel such peace and love and joy – we can’t even imagine it here. But we know this: The architect and builder is God. God has revealed some things about Himself. God is love. God is kind. God is joy. God is holy. God is good. What a wonderful future we have to look forward to.
One last point, 3. God is preparing a place for us.
“Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.”
What that says to me is that heaven is an individual place. My idea of heaven might be different from what your idea of heaven is. Heaven is going to be built and tailored to each of us individually. I don’t know how God can do that – but I believe He has the ability to do it. He has YOU in mind as He is planning and creating and building your eternity. And it will be awesome!
Jesus has taken the sting out of what we fear most – death. Paul wrote,
“When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 15:54-57
A boy and his father were riding in their car one summer day with the windows rolled down. A bee flew in and the boy, who was very allergic to the bee’s sting, panicked. He recoiled in fear and started screaming at the top of his lungs.
The father reached out as the bee flew around the boy and caught the bee in his hand. Instantly the boy calmed down. A few seconds later, the father released the bee and it again started flying around the panicked boy. The father told the boy to relax - there was no need to panic. He had taken the sting from the bee. He showed him the stinger stuck in his hand and told his son the bee could no longer hurt him.
That story reminds me that God has taken the sting out of death for us, and He has given us something to replace it. He has given us the hope of eternal life in Heaven with Him. We have the expectation of glory waiting for us.
When you come to Jesus you have come to the right place, for he is the God of abundance and life. He gives extravagantly. Remember the story of Jesus’ first miracle? He was at a wedding celebration and turned water into wine. To receive this wine you have to come to him with your thirst. As you stand there with your empty life, follow the instructions of Jesus’ mother when she says, “Do whatever he tells you.” If you do, something wonderful is about to happen — a miracle. He will fill you with living Water. He will fill you with Himself. Come to Him with your need. Come to Him with your emptiness. Those that hunger and thirst – will be filled.
“Spirit Song”
